PM Modi in, Mahatma Gandhi out on Khadi calendar

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has replaced Mahatma Gandhi on the 2017 calendars of government`s khadi enterprise in a move described by many in the opposition as "sacrilege".

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).

"There is no rule that only Gandhi`s picture has to be on the calendar," said a top government source.
PM Modi`s BJP said Gandhi`s picture was not on Khadi commission`s material in 1996, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2013 and 2016. "So why a controversy now?" BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra wondered.

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."

Opposition parties sneered at what they called blatant self-aggrandizement.
"Becoming Gandhi requires years of self-sacrifice," Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, tweeted in Hindi.

"You cannot become Gandhi by acting as if you can spin the charkha (spinning wheel) - this will only make you a laughing stock."
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of Bengal, commented: "Gandhiji is the Father of the Nation. Modi ji what???"

Rahul Gandhi captioned it the "Mangalyaan Effect". At a Congress event two days ago, he had said, "Modi would take credit for sending the Mangalyaan if he had his way".

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.

Some employees of the Khadi commission held a silent protest yesterday, with black bands covering their mouths, to record their protest.

Mahatma Gandhi`s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi was among those who was deeply critical of the calendars and diaries. "Bapu`s charkha was the source of income for the poor people. Now has become a photo prop," he said today.

Source: NDTV