Ambala: Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a bigger brand name than Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.
Vij gave the statement in connection with the new Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) calendar featuring Modi, which has created a political uproar.
Good that Mahatma was replaced by Modi on khadi calendar,Gandhi will also gradually be removed from currency notes says Haryana Min Anil Vij pic.twitter.com/e8AXr7WJFw
— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2017
Raising a fresh controversy, he said that after the khadi stationery, Mahatma Gandhi’s image would be removed from notes as well.
Interacting with media persons in Ambala, Vij said that from the time that Mahatma Gandhi’s name was associated with Khadi (movement), Khadi had failed. “Gandhi’s name is not patented with Khadi.
“It’s good that Modi’s photo replaced that of Gandhi’s in the calendar,” Vij said.
The minister did not stop here.
“Mahatma Gandhi ka aisa naam hai, note ke upar chipak gaya jis din se, note ki devaluation ho gayi. Achha kiya hai ke Gandhi ka hata ke Modi ka lagaya hai. Modi ziyada better brand name hai aur Modi ki photo lagney se 14 per cent sale badi hai khadi ki (Mahatma Gandhi’s name is such that from the day his picture is pasted on the (currency) note, the note got devalued. It is good that they (KVIC) removed Gandhi’s photo and put Modi’s. Modi is a much better brand. Khadi sales have increased by 14 per cent after putting Modi’s photo,” he said.
(“Since the day 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. Modi is a bigger brand name. It’s good that Gandhi’s image has been replaced with Modi’s. After Modi’s association with khadi, there has been 14 per cent increase in the sale of products,” Vij said.)
Asked why Mahatma’s photographs were still printed on new currency notes issued under the Modi government, Vij said: “Hatt jayengey dheere dheere (They will be removed slowly).”
While the Congress lambasted the mindset of the BJP minister, the BJP distanced itself from the comments saying that his “views could be personal”.
Vij, the state Health and Sports Minister later on Saturday tweeted: “The comments on Mahatma Gandhi are personal. I am withdrawing this so that it does not hurt anyone’s sentiments.”
However, he did not offer any apology for the comments.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also distanced himself from Vij’s comments.
The whole controversy started with Modi’s picture spinning the charkha donning the cover page of the Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) calendar and diary, instead of the iconic picture of Gandhi weaving Khadi on a simple charkha, wearing his trademark loin cloth.
With ANI/IANS inputs