CHANDIGARH: Further fueling the controversy of Prime Minster Narendra Modi's picture weaving khadi on a simple charkha in Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) calendar replacing the photo of father of the nation Mahatama Gandhi, which has created a political uproar, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij today said Khadi is not Gandhi's patent and since his name is on the currency notes it has devalued the currency further.
Vij who is senior BJP leader of the state and five time MLA from Ambala besides Health Minister in the state cabinet , he said," It was a right decision to remove the picture of Gandhi from the calendar. Khadi is not patented under Gandhi's name." Since the day Gandhi's name got associated with Khadi, it could not progress it just finished (Jab se Khadi ke saath Gandhi ka naam juda hai,khadi uth hi nahi saki,khadi doob gayi). It's good that Modi has replaced Gandhi, as Modi is a better and big brand name than Gandhi and because of him the sale of Khadi has increased by 14 per cent. Vij did not stop here he went on to say,`` Gandhi's name is such that after it got added to the notes, the currency got devalued, gradually, he will be removed from the notes also.
After facing flank from all quarters, Vij withdrew his comment as he said," it was my personal opinion. I take my statement back as I did not want to hurt anyone's feelings." Quickly distancing themselves from the controversial statement of his cabinet colleague Vij, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said," It is his personal opinion and has nothing to do with the party." Controversy is not new to Vij he has earlier also criticized his own Chief Minister Khattar and the BJP government.