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Home Minister Amit Shah (right) and BJP working president J.P. Nadda, along with party leaders Vijay Goel and Vijender Gupta sweep the floor at AIIMS hospital, in New Delhi. Image Credit: PTI

New Delhi: Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday kicked-off the party’s “seva saptah” (service week) as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday celebrations and appealed to citizens to shun the use of plastic.

Shah, who is also president of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with the party’s working president J.P. Nadda, and senior party leadesr Vijay Goel and Vijender Gupta swept the floors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here as part of the ‘seva saptah’ campaign.

The party leaders also visited patients and children admitted in the hospital.

“I appeal to the citizens that in this ‘seva saptah’ which will run from September 14 to 20, the people of the country should take the pledge of cleanliness, shunning the use of single use plastic and [promoting] water conservation. They should also take a pledge to take these messages to the people of the country,” Shah tweeted in Hindi.

While speaking to media, Shah said: “BJP workers across the country will begin celebrating ‘seva saptah’ from today. Our Prime Minister has dedicated his entire life to serve the nation and has worked for the poor.”

“So, it is appropriate that we celebrate his birthday week as ‘seva saptah’.”

Prime Minister Modi’s birthday is on September 17.

Shah also asked the party workers to go among the poor across the country and highlight the works of the Centre.

The BJP National general secretary Arun Singh said on Friday that from September 14-20, the party will undertake innumerable social initiatives across the nation.

He added that the BJP has also planned several exhibitions to showcase the social work done by Modi.

According to the party leaders, these exhibitions will be organised in every district by the BJP cadres to display the works of the Centre under Modi’s leadership.