'Sorry, Not Sorry...': Ashneer Grover On Row Over Indore's Cleanliness Rank 'Bought' Remark

This response comes after BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover in a video appeared to question the legitimacy of Indore's top ranking in the Centre's cleanliness survey, suggesting it had been "bought."

File Photo of BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover

Source : X/@Ashneer_Grover

Amidst a growing controversy surrounding his recent comments on Indore's top rank in the Union government's cleanliness survey, Ashneer Grover, co-founder of BharatPe, on Monday declared that while he is prepared to apologise to the city itself, he will not extend an apology to politicians. On Monday, a non-cognisable offence information report (NCR) was filed against Grover after a video emerged where he appeared to question the legitimacy of Indore's top ranking in the Centre's cleanliness survey, suggesting it had been "bought."

In response to the development, Grover further expressed his views in a post on his social media platform.

"Sorry to Indore. You've got great people and a city. But politicians everywhere have got no chill! Unnecessary politics being made out of a statement made in jest in a playful conversation on Bhopal vs Indore. Where the audience had fun - no offence was meant. None taken by anyone. No one getting offended now was even present in the room," Grover stated in the post, late on Monday night.

Sorry. Not Sorry !

Sorry to Indore. You’ve got great people and city. But politicians everywhere have got no chill ! Unnecessary politics being made out of a statement made in jest in a playful conversation on Bhopal vs Indore. Where the audience had fun - no offence was meant.… pic.twitter.com/OGxZMu4yV1

— Ashneer Grover (@Ashneer_Grover) September 11, 2023

He further asserted, "Not sorry to any politician. Ever. No one. Any party. FIR kar lo (register an FIR). Case kar lo (register a case). Koi farak nahi padta (it doesn't make any difference) - I am not a pushover - won't be bullied. Don't make an issue where there is none. It might be an election year - but people are smart. Indori people - super smart. I'll come to Indore when I wish, as many times I wish - and am confident of Indori mehmaan nawazi (good hospitality)."

Grover also emphasised that, in his view, Bhopal remained his favorite over Indore.

The remarks came as Indore, located in Madhya Pradesh, has maintained the top position in the Union government's Swachh Sarvekshan (Cleanliness Survey) for six consecutive years.

In a video, recorded at an event on Sunday, Grover can be heard stating, "See, there is a concept - playing to the gallery, that is, wherever you go, praise it saying I have never seen such a nice city. Now the problem with me is that for three-four years I have heard that Indore is the cleanest city...you have bought the survey. It's a simple thing."

Grover then went on to stress that he was not suggesting Indore was unclean but had a lot of ongoing construction projects going on in the city. "I like Bhopal much better. It has got lakes, natural topography is better, thankfully they are not constructing metro, or at least, I did not visit those areas," he added.

Following the video's circulation, an NCR was filed against Grover under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint was lodged by the Indore Municipal Corporation, news agency PTI reported.

Indore's Mayor, Pushyamitra Bhargava, expressed his displeasure, stating, "I have seen Grover's video. His statement is an insult to the hard work of the city's people and sanitation workers for cleanliness. We will take appropriate legal action against this insult and also serve him a notice for defamation", as quoted by PTI.

State Home Minister Narottam Mishra, responsible for the Indore district, also criticised Grover's statement, remarking, “Those who have garbage in their mind will only see filth."

As per PTI, Sanjay Ghavri, the chief sanitary inspector at the Indore Municipal Corporation, whose complaint led to the NCR, conveyed his disappointment, emphasising that Grover's statement had deeply hurt the city's sanitation workers who tirelessly labor to maintain cleanliness. "This statement has hurt thousands of sanitation workers of the city who are engaged in cleanliness work from early morning till late night," he said.

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