Shashi Tharoor on Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: The hollowness of the campaign will create more frustration among the people

Jaipur: Dressed in a yellow kurta and a black jacket, Shashi Tharoor waved and greeted everyone with folded hands as he came on the stage for his session with former journalists Mihir Sharma and Amrita Tripathi on Friday noon at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival.

The politician was at the lit fest to present his new book, 'India Shastra' a book on collection of essays written by him.

Tharoor set out the mood of the discussion by reading excerpts from one of his essays which was about the current PM of the country, Narendra Modi. From his policies to his ideologies, Modi was the subject of Tharoor and Sharma's critical discussion.

During the question answer round, a member in the audience asked what his opinion on Modi's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' was considering it is a campaign that has struck a right chord amongst the people of the nation.

"The campaign was in exceptional. But it only works if it doesn't become just another photo opportunity every 2 October for his ministers. Where is the budget?" asked Tharoor skeptically.

"Has the change been visible in any place. Do you see your neigbourhood area cleaner? I feel more work has been done by several NGOs than the current government. Modi has touched something which every middle class in this country feels for but how will he implement it?" said the former Union minister.

Stating that the government hasn't been able to envision the larger picture, Tharoor said there was lack of in structure to make the campaign a success. "The hollowness of the ambition will create more frustration among the people."

When a young girl cited that politicians do not really inspire the youth to join politics in India, Tharoor said that it is important for educated people to come forward and make conscious decision to participate on building the nation. The politician said only then can there be coherent change in the society at large.

Tharoor in fact, throughout his session, emphasized on educating the young India. He also talked about the need to train skilled labor for the manufacturing industry and stated that the government does know how to use the country's young as a resource. " We are a land of paradoxes. We are a young country ruled by older people," said Tharoor.