Lucknow, April 20 -- Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday unveiled the statue of Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of Sulabh International, in Lucknow.

Speaking at the event, Singh praised Pathak's contributions to India's cleanliness movement.

"I am pleased that today in Lucknow, the statue of Bindeshwar Pathak Ji is being unveiled. Pathak Ji was not just an individual, but a movement. He gave a new direction to the concept of cleanliness. He proved that if there is determination, the work can be done," Singh said.

He said Pathak carried forward Mahatma Gandhi's idea of cleanliness as a form of service.

"He advanced Mahatma Gandhi's vision of 'Cleanliness is Service' through the Sulabh International initiative. He transformed ...