New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens of the country on Thursday to eliminate the use of single-use plastic and also suggested shopkeepers to provide eco-friendly bags to its customers. This statement comes with an aim to prevent environmental degradation. "During my 2014 speech, I spoke about cleanliness. It became a movement in the country and the common man took it up with gusto. Today, I have another request. By October 2, on the birth anniversary of Dear Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi), I want to urge the citizen to give up single-use plastic," Prime Minister Modi said on the 73rd Independence Day while addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort.

PM Modi: Can we free India from single use plastic? Time for implementing this idea is now.Let a important step in this direction be made on 2nd October. #IndependenceDayIndia pic.twitter.com/Bed1My0WNp

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2019

Watch the video of the key highlights of Narendra Modi's speech on Independence Day