Rahul Gandhi or Bachchan no match for Mahatma in khadi appeal

Even legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan or glamorous Rahul Gandhi cannot outshine the Mahatma when it comes to khadi, associated with the Father of the Nation, who popularised the cloth and its use with a missionary zeal during the freedom struggle.

After considering cine stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini and former cricketer Kapil Dev, the brass at Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) decided against hiring a commercial brand ambassador.

The KVIC is the central agency for making and marketing the cloth made of handspun yarn. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, minister of state for communication Jyotiraditya Scindia, and members of parliament Navin Jindal, Sachin Pilot and Prakash Jawdekar were the other contenders considered.

"Very often there was a discussion on the issue of brand ambassador. But finally the thought prevailed that no one could be better identified with khadi than Mahatma Gandhi...there is nobody above the Father of Nation," a reliable source, associated with khadi, said.