Tushar Gandhi slams PM Modi for replacing Gandhi in Khadi Udyog stationery

Mumbai: Amid of the growing criticism on the missing picture of Mahatma Gandhi from the 2017 calendar and diary of the Khadi Village Industries Commission, The great-grandson of  MahatmaGandhi, Tushar A. Gandhi, attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

Gandhi tweeted. “PM models for polyvastra (polyesterene). Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) wore khaddar (khadi) to Buckingham Palace, not a Rs 10 lakh suit.”

He added: “Haath me Charkha, Dil me Nathuram. No sin in calling a spade a spade and a joker a joker on television,” and demanded shutting down the KVIC.

By giving the example of his iconic great-grandfather’s historic visit to Britain in 1931.Gandhi said when Mahatma met Britain’s King George V and Queen Mary, he was in his plain loincloth and a shawl and not like Modi’s controversial expensive suit when he wore during US President Barack Obama’s visit to India in January 2015.

Gandhi said in his tweet.”Tera Charkha le gaya Chor, Sun le Bapu ye Paigaam, Meri Chitthi tere naam (Your spinning wheel has been stolen — a message to Bapu)… First, Bapu disappeared from few Rs 2,000 currency notes, now he disappears from KVIC office and calendar. Replaced by Rs 10 lakh-ka suit loving PM.”

Gandhiji who has been the biggest brand ambassador for khadi now replaced by  Modi. Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam said is it’s “an insult to the Father of Nation”.

He said in his statement that.”We strongly condemn this… and demand that the calendars be withdrawn immediately,”

Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan demanded an apology and termed it “an illness of self-patting.”

He said.”Mahatma Gandhi gave the message of “swadeshi” and self-dependence to the nation, for which the KVIC was formed in 1956… However, this government spares no effort for self-praises even if it’s a wrong step.”

He added. “You cannot erase Mahatma Gandhi from the hearts of the people”.

Opposition leaders reacted sharply to the move.  The employees of KVIC at its Vile Parle headquarters staged “a silent, soul-cleansing” protest wearing black bands on their mouths, during lunch hour on Thursday.