Narendra Modi is a better brand than the father of the nation Says BJP Minister
NEW DELHI : As the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photos replacing Mahatma Gandhi on the 2017 calendars of the government’s khadi enterprise rages, BJP leader and Haryana minister Anil Vij today kicked up another storm by claiming that Mahatma Gandhi’s image is responsible for devaluation of notes.
“Ever since Mahatma Gandhi’s name has been on the rupee note, it has devalued… Slowly Mahatma Gandhi will disappear from the notes,” the Haryana minister claimed. He also said that it is good that Mahatma Gandhi’s image has been removed from the calendar as PM Modi is a better brand than the father of the nation.
“Ever since Mahatma Gandhi’s name has been associated with Khadi, Khadi has not been able to make any progress. The sale of Khadi products went down… Removing Gandhi and placing Modi’s photo (on the khadi calendar) is a good step. Modi is a much better brand name. Since Modi’s photo (on the khadi calendar) the sale of khadi products has gone up by 14 per cent,” Mr Vij said.
“Since the time when Gandhi’s name got associated with Khadi…it could not progress. The day Mahatma Gandhi came on the rupee, its devaluation started. Gradually, he will be removed from the notes also. It’s good that Gandhi has been replaced with Modi…Modi is a bigger brand name. After Modi’s association with khadi, there has been 14 percent increase in sale of the products,” he said.
After striking a fresh controversy by claiming that after khadi stationary, Mahatma Gandhi would be removed from notes as well, Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Saturday said the statement is his personal and he takes it back as he does not want to hurt anyone’s sentiments.
However, hours later, Vij has now withdrawn his statement saying that it was his personal opinion and was not intended to hurt anyone’s sentiment. “The comment I made on Mahatma Gandhi is my personal opinion, to avoid hurting anyone’s sentiments I take it back,” ANI quoted the Haryana Minister saying.
“The comment I made on Mahatma Gandhi is my personal opinion, to avoid hurting anyone’s sentiments I take it back,” Vij tweeted.
However, after backlash from the opposition, he withdrew his comments. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was quick to dismiss the comment as Mr Vij’s personal opinion. “It is his personal opinion and has nothing to do with the party,” he said.
Distancing itself from Vij’s comment, the BJP said Mahatma Gandhi is an icon, adding that the saffron party condemns the remark.Khattar also said, “BJP strongly condemns statement of Anil Vij,its his personal remark & not party’s stand. Mahatma Gandhi is our icon,” BJP leader Shrikant Sharma told ANI.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the BJP for Mr Vij’s remarks and said, “Modi government is doing exactly what the British did. Subjugate people, subjugate institutions and use the might of the power of the state to stifle every dissenting voice. But Modi ji, Anil Vij ji and the BJP must remember that Mahatma Gandhi will always live in the soul of India.”
PM Narendra Modi seen on the 2017 Khadi Udyog calendar and diary instead of Mahatma Gandhi.
Top government sources have alleged a “baseless and unnecessary controversy” over the face of PM Modi on calendars and diaries of the state-run Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The image of Gandhi in a loincloth, sitting cross-legged at a charkha or spinning wheel, is one of India’s most iconic and has long been used to promote khadi.
Defending PM Modi’s image on Khadi calendars, government sources said: “Modi ji is a youth icon and the increasing popularity of Khadi products among youths is an example of this.”Over the years, the commission’s calendars and diaries have traditionally featured Mahatma Gandhi, who started the Khadi movement in the 1920s to promote Indian hand-spun cloth compared to the costly version sold by British rulers.
