Haryana Minister Anil Vij today stoked a controversy with his remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a ‘bigger brand name than Mahatma Gandhi’.
“Khadi is not patent in the name of Gandhi, and the sale of khadi items increased by 14 percent ever since Modi got associated with it,” Vij said as he referred to the issue of PM Modi's photo in the calendar and the diary of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
“It's good that PM Modi's photo was placed in on the 2017 calendar and diaries published by the KVIC as Modi is a bigger brand than Gandhi,” Vij added.
The Minister even said that “Gandhiji should be removed from the notes as well”.
"The name of Mahatma led to fall in the sale of khadi items. Same happened with our rupee note," he said.
The Minister’s remark invited sharp criticism from opposition leaders who linked it to the ideology of the ruling BJP.
“One can only expect such kind of objectionable and nonsensical statements from BJP's leaders and ministers,” Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said.
RJJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav too slammed the Minister saying, “It is a shameful comment made by the minister. He should not forgot the Bapu’s contribution to the freedom struggle.”
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, however, distanced the party and government from Vij’s remark saying ‘it was his personal opinion’.
“It is his personal opinion and has nothing to do with the party,” the CM said.
Meanwhile, Vij has apologised for his remark and said that he ‘didn’t wanted to hurt anyone’.
A major controversy erupted earlier this week when PM Modi spinning the "charkha" in the classic pose of Mahatma Gandhi appeared on the 2017 calendar and diaries of the KVIC. The commission's calendars have always featured Mahatma Gandhi, who founded the Khadi movement in the 1920s, aiming to boycott foreign goods in a non-violent protest against the British.
