VARANASI, Oct. 3 -- Varanasi mayor Ashok Tiwari on Friday administered the pledge of cleanliness and service to public on the occasion of birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi, and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Celebrations took place at the Varanasi Nagar Nigam headquarters, Gandhi Ashram, universities and colleges here on Friday. The event began with mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari hoisting the national flag and saluting the Tricolour. Subsequently, the mayor and municipal commissioner Himanshu Nagpal paid floral tributes to the portraits of Bapu and Shastri Ji and lit the ceremonial lamp. On the occasion, the mayor administered a pledge of cleanliness and service to the councillors, officials, and employees present. Speaking on the occasion, the mayor emphasized that alongside celebrating these anniversaries, we must incorporate the ideals and thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and Shastri Ji into our lives. He noted that one can become a responsible citizen only by upholding dedication, honesty, and the discharge of duties. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he mentioned that the Prime Minister had conveyed the message of cleanliness to the entire nation from the sacred soil of Kashi itself. Therefore, it is the paramount duty of all residents of Kashi to make their city clean, beautiful, and plastic-free. Five sanitation workers who made outstanding contributions to the sanitation system were honoured with certificates of appreciation by the mayor and the municipal commissioner. The mayor directed officials to ensure that the honoured workers-Ramji, Sachin, Chandan, Deepu, and Ajay-are also presented with a cheque of Rs.5,100 each within two days....