Vij, a five-time MLA from Ambala Cantt, told reporters, "Gandhiji's name has no patent over khadi. Since Gandhi's name has been attached with khadi, it has only gone down.
Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Saturdy raked up controversy with remarks that Mahatma Gandhi's image did not help khadi and caused devaluation of the currency, sparking outrage with the BJP also condemning the statement.
Not a stranger to controversies, Vij 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. He described Modi is a "better brand" and went on to add that Gandhi's image would be removed gradually from the currency notes too. He later withdrew the statement, saying they were his personal views.
Vij, a five-time MLA from Ambala Cantt, told reporters, "Gandhiji's name has no patent over khadi. Since Gandhi's name has been attached with khadi, it has only gone down. "When 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's. Modi is a better brand than Gandhi. With the Modi brand name, Khadi sales increased," he said in reply to queries from reporters.
Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson, alleged that it was a "well orchestrated" campaign and the minister was speaking the language of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Congress said Gandhi "can be killed, his photographs can be removed but he remains in the soul of India".
The BJP also condemned Vij's remarks. "We condemn these remarks. These are his personal comments," BJP spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also distanced himself from his colleague's remarks, saying the minister made these remarks in his personal capacity and that the party does not endorse them.
Earlier, Vij had courted controversy with his remarks that those who cannot live without beef should not come to Haryana. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Vij on his claim that PM Narendra Modi is a "bigger brand" than Mahatma Gandhi. He tweeted: "Hitler and Mussolini were also very powerful brands."
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