Har minister Anil Vij makes 'insulting' remarks against Gandhi
Withdraws remarks after widespread condemnation
PTI
Ambala
Haryana Minister Anil Vij Saturday courted controversy with remarks that Mahatma Gandhi's image did not help Khadi and caused devaluation of the currency, sparking widespread outrage with even his party BJP condemning the statements following which he withdrew them.
Senior BJP leader in Haryana, who is not a stranger to controversies, said it was good that Gandhi's image has been replaced with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the calendar and diary of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) as Modi is a 'brand' and went on to add that Gandhi's image would be removed gradually from the currency notes too.
Remarks by Vij were slammed by Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson, who alleged that it was 'orchestrated' campaign from the 'high command' and the minister was speaking the language of RSS.
The Congress said Gandhi can be killed, his photographs can be removed but he remains in the soul of India.
About the controversy over Modi's photo, Vij, a five-time MLA from Ambala Cantt, told reporters, Gandhi's name has no patent over Khadi. Since Gandhi's name has been attached with Khadi, it has only gone down. Gandhi's image was put on notes, the currency also got devalued,” Vij said.
"It is a good move to replace Gandhi's image with Modi as he is a better brand than Gandhi. With the Modi brand name, Khadi sales increased,” he said.
In reply to queries from reporters why the BJP government continued with Gandhi's image on the new currency notes introduced after demonetisation, he said, "will also go gradually.”
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala attacked the Modi government over the remarks saying it is doing what the Britishers did.
"People and institutions use the power of the state to stifle every dissenting voice but Modiji's. Anil Vij and BJP must remember that Mahatma Gandhi, you can kill him, you can remove his photograph, you can abuse Mahatma Gandhi, but Gandhi has always lived in the soul of India,”he said.
Embarrassed BJP condemned Vij's remarks. "These are his personal comments,” BJP spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also quickly distanced himself, saying the remarks have been made by the Minister in his personal capacity and the party does not endorse them and has nothing to do with them.
Vij later withdrew his remarks saying, "Statement given by me in connection with Mahatma Gandhi was given in my personal capacity. To avoid hurting anyone's sentiments, I am withdrawing it,” the Minister tweeted.
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Remarks by Anil Vij, his personal views: BJP
New Delhi: BJP Saturday condemned Haryana Minister and senior party leader Anil Vij for his remarks critical of Mahatma Gandhi and said these were his personal views.
"The party does not associate itself with his remarks as these are his personal comments. We condemn them,” BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said. He claimed that Vij has withdrawn his remarks.
He said Gandhiji is an icon for BJP and the country as such and his values are held in highest esteem by the saffron party. He also hit out at Congress over its attack on BJP, saying it has no moral right to speak about the Father of the Nation as it only used his name and photograph all these years while the BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has implemented his philosophies of Khadi and swachhta. PTI
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Hitler, Mussolini were also powerful brands: Rahul on Vij's remark
New Delhi: Hitting out at Haryana Minister Anil Vij for his controversial remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is better brand than Mahatma Gandhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday said the dictators Hitler and Mussolini were also very powerful brands. The Congress Vice President took to twitter to chastise the senior BJP leader in Haryana for his comments that drew widespread criticism, even his own party condemning the statement.
Hitler and Mussolini were also very powerful brands,” Rahul said in a tweet. PTI
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Praful Patel plays down row over PM's pic on KVIC calendar
Shirdi: leader Praful Patel Saturday said there is no need to create a controversy over Narendra Modi's photo on the calendar and the diary of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) as the Prime Minister is seen using a ''charkha'' which is Mahatma Gandhi's gift to the nation.
It is a good thing. Charkha is Mahatma Gandhi's gift to the nation. The country's Prime Minister is using a charkha and I feel there is no need to create a controversy over it,” he told reporters after paying a visit to the Sai Baba temple here.
Trinamool Congress, JD(U), AAP and even BJP ally Shiv Sena, have reacted sharply to the Prime Minister's picture being featured on the KVIC calendar, instead of Mahatma Gandhi. To a query on demonetisation, the former Union Minister said, ban is a good thing. But people of the country faced difficulties following demonetisation in the fight against black money, terrorism and others.”
