Bittu Tabahi counters Dhruv Rathee: River cleanup isn't about credit, it's civic duty

Surendra Singh Chaudhary, a 20-year-old student from Madhya Pradesh known online as 'Bittu Tabahi', has responded to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee's criticism of his meeting with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Rathee had accused the state government of using the young environmentalist for a 'photoshoot' and taking undue credit for his work.

Chaudhary, who single-handedly cleaned the polluted Ajnar River in Biaora starting January 26, addressed Rathee directly in a comment, saying the issue is not about credit but about civic sense. He wrote that the government had appreciated his work earlier too, and his aim is to encourage people to understand their responsibility and step forward for cleanliness.

The CM had invited Chaudhary to his residence in Bhopal after his efforts went viral. During the meeting, Yadav praised the youth's solitary dedication and linked it to the 'Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan', which promotes citizen-led water conservation. The CM's Instagram post highlighted that real change requires genuine purpose, not numbers.

Chaudhary's work, carried out with a shovel and no budget, involved cleaning the river despite health risks, snake encounters, and limb infections. The local municipality later supported him with heavy machinery to remove accumulated waste, as confirmed by a municipal official.