THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: AMID raging controversy over ‘ejecting’ Mahatma Gandhi from the khadi calendar by the Narendra Modi government, it is now the turn of the LDF Government on Tuesday to draw flak for neglecting the Father of the Nation.
In a shocker, Gandhiji could not find a place on the list of martyrs who had laid down their lives for the nation’s independence struggle as per the circular issued by the state General Administration Department.
The photo in the brochure of a seminar in connection with the diamond jubilee of the Legislative Assembly on January 18 giving prominence to the statue of state’s first Chief Minister E M S Namboodiripad and sidelining Gandhiji’s statue on the Assembly premises also drew criticism from many.
In the GAD circular sent to all departments, instructions have been given to observe a two-minute silence on January 30, in memory of martyrs’ freedom movement. But Gandhiji’s name is nowhere on the list!
Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president V M Sudheeran criticised that the Pinarayi Vijayan government is following the same policy of the Modi when it comes to denigrating Gandhiji.
“It is surprising that there is no mention of Gandhiji on the martyrs’ list. It has to be suspected whether the LDF has ulterior motives by excluding Gandhiji, like what was pursued by the Modi government in the KVIC diary and calender,” said Ramesh. “The government should take corrective measures,” he insisted. Sudheeran termed the act a deliberate move and demanded to withdraw the circular and issue a corrected one.
KPCC spokesperson Joseph Vazhakkan came down on the government for excluding the picture of Gandhiji’s statue in front of the Assembly in a programme brochure.