Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday conducted surprise checks at post offices in New Delhi before the launch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Clean India mission, which is to be officially launched on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2.

"Personally checked cleanliness of files, desks and cupboards of post offices. Wasn't happy with cleanliness," tweeted the Law Minister. He also posted a picture that showed him looking into a cupboard with a stack of old files and boxes next to it.

"In view of Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan, paid surprise visits to Gol Dak Khana & Lodi Road post offices in N.Delhi," he said on Twitter.

Another Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan also took a broom to sweep the streets of the national capital.

On Thursday, PM Modi is expected to pick up a broom to launch his Swachh Bharat (Clean India) mission, which he also mentioned in his 70-minute speech at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

The Centre this year has decided to observe October 2 as a working day for its employees, who will also take a cleanliness pledge on the day.

Last week, several other Union ministers had taken to the streets with brooms in New Delhi. Education Minister Smriti Irani and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar were among the ministers to participate.

There were reports of garbage strewn by government staff for the VIPs to clean. "Pehle kooda, phir jhadu, phir photo (first litter, then sweep, then photo)," Congress leader Ajay Maken tweeted last week.