There Is No Question Of A Controversy: KVIC Chairman On PM's Image On Calendar

A political fight has broken out after the Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) replaced the image of Mahatma Gandhi with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in its wall calendar and

table diary for 2017.

KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena speaking to TIMES NOW rejected charges that PM Modi has replaced Mahatma Gandhi and added that this is not the first time the image of Mahatma Gandhi is not

on the calendar and diary.

"How can anyone replace the father of the nation. One can emulate his actions. In the previous six years the KVIC diaries did not have Gandhi in its cover pages  1996, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2013

and 2016. So, where is the question of any controversy?" he asked. 

Saxena said that Prime Minister's photograph must be seen "from a different angle" and that the decision was taken after PM Modi's appeal to Indians to use khadi resulted in the sale of

khadi increasing.

"The Prime Minister is promoting khadi. Because of the Prime Minister's appeal through Mann Ki Baat and various other means, the sale of khadi has gone up manyfolds. If you see the sale of

khadi in the last 10 years, sales increased from 2 per cent to 7 per cent only. But, just because of PM's appeal in 2015 and 2016, sale of khadi has gone up by 34 per cent. This year too,

the sale is going up. If we are putting up his picture, what is wrong in it?

The KVIC chairman added that the decision was taken by the Commission itself.

"Commission is an autonomous body. We take our own decisions. I want to tell you, Gandhi cannot be replaced by anyone. Gandhi and Khadi are inseperable. The KVIC ideals are based on

Gandhiji. Our every action is based on Gandhiji's ideas. So where is the question?" Saxena added.