Haryana Minister Anil Vij is known for his “foot in mouth” disease having made several controversial statements in the past. On Saturday, he came out with another one with remarks that Mahatma Gandhi’s image did not help Khadi and caused devaluation of the currency.
Soon after his remarks, there was widespread outrage with even his party BJP condemning the statements following which he withdrew them but refused to apologise for the insulting remarks. Vij, who wanted to become the Chief Minister of Haryana after the party’s victory in the 2014 Assembly polls, 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 (KVIC) as Modi is a “better brand” and went on to add that Gandhi’s image would be removed gradually from the currency notes too.
Asked about the controversy over Modi’s photo, Vij, a five-time MlA from Ambala Cantt and Health Minister in the Manohar lal Khattar Government, told reporters, “Gandhiji’s name has no patent over Khadi. Since Gandhis 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. Modi is a better brand than Gandhi. With the Modi brand name, Khadi sales increased,” he said in his reply to queries from reporters.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala attacked Vij and the Modi Government on removal of the Mahatma’s photos from the KVIC. “Subjugate people and institutions and use the power of the State to stifle every dissenting voice but Modiji, Anil Vij and BJP must remember that Mahatma Gandhi, you can kill him, you can remove his photograph, you can abuse Mahatma Gandhi, but Gandhi has always lived in the soul of India,” he said.
An embarrassed BJP 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, saying the remarks had been made by the Minister in his personal capacity and the party did not endorse them and had nothing to do with them.
Vij later withdrew his remarks. “The statement given by me in connection with Mahatma Gandhi was given in my personal capacity. To avoid hurting anyone’s sentiments, I am withdrawing it,” the Minister tweeted. However, Vij did not apologise for the controversial remarks.