Defecate in open, get killed: Swachh Bharat hoarding in UP’s Baghpat raises a stink

Authorities of a civic body in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat have come under fire for putting up hoardings with a controversial slogan against open defecation under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

“Agar karoge khule me shauch, jaldi di jaegi maut (If you defecate in the open, you will be killed soon)”, the hoardings by the civic body said before they were removed after the blunder was pointed out by the media and residents.

The executive officer of Baghpat Nagar Palika Parishad Lalit Kumar Arya said 40 hoardings were put up at different locations and a few had wrong slogans. “It was a mistake on the printer’s part who printed the slogan incorrectly. We have issued a warning to him,” Arya said.

An official, who did not wish to be named, said the original message on the board was supposed to be ‘Agar karoge khule me shauch, jaldi ho jaegi maut’ (If you defecate in the open, you may not live long).

Baghpat’s district magistrate Rishirendra Kumar said he has sought a report on the goof-up and admitted that it was a blunder, which could have been avoided.

“It appears to be a mistake during printing. But even if it was, the ignorance of the supervisory staff is unacceptable. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain how it happened and who was responsible for it,” said Kumar.