Prashant Kumar was one of several journalists, who reacted in shock on Khadi Udyog’s decision to eject Mahatma Gandhi out of 2017 calendar and table diaries to make way for Modi.

Kumar’s tweet said, “Now that we have got a new Gandhi, how soon the Godse comes is the question. #KhadiModiFied”

As expected, the journalist was inundated with tweets from the right-wing troll army, most of whom tagged his employer Times Now and Vineet Jain, the Managing Director of Times of India group, asking for his sacking.

Faced with barrage of unpleasant tweets, Kumar, whose Twitter bio says ‘Covers politics, principally UP Politics. PERSONAL space. Views completely MINE, not my channel’s/employers’ soon clarified.

He wrote, “I m appalled at crtn individuals who r maliciously misinterpreting my tweet abt PM. Those deliberately doing it shud be ashamed of thmslvs.(sic)”

I m appalled at crtn individuals who r maliciously misinterpreting my tweet abt PM. Those deliberately doing it shud be ashamed of thmslvs. pic.twitter.com/ebOJ1oNXGS

— Prashant Kumar (@Prashant_TN) January 14, 2017

But, this failed to pacify his right-wing Hindutva detractors, who continued to harass him on the microblogging site.

On Sunday he posted an apology, “Frnds, dis tweet hs been cmpltly misinterpreted by many. He is my PM too. Views r absolutely mine and not my channel’s. Apologies. Thanks. (sic)”
 

Frnds, dis tweet hs been cmpltly misinterpreted by many. He is my PM too. Views r absolutely mine and not my channel's. Apologies. Thanks. https://t.co/Qtzh6f0Rmi

— Prashant Kumar (@Prashant_TN) January 14, 2017

Courtesy: Janta Ka Reporter

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Dear Modi-ji

Hearty congratulations on your pathbreaking move to replace the image of Mahatma Gandhi from the calendars and diaries of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for 2017.

Here are some humble suggestions from our side.

Now that you have successfully eradicated all the black money in India, we believe you should go further.

We want your photo on all the new currency notes – de-gandhi-isation of currency should be next!

Your leadership of the ATM march brought millions of Indians out to the streets. This was much bigger than Gandhi’s Dandi March!

As you have replaced Gandhi, please consider replacing Nehru with Amit Shah in all images of the freedom struggle

With love,

Newsclick

Courtesy: Newsclick.in

The post Modi – India’s New Mahatma appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 
गौरतलब है कि खादी ग्रामोद्योग की ओर से जारी किए जाने वाले सालाना कैलेंडर पर हर साल राष्ट्रपिता महात्मा गांधी की तस्वीर छपती रही है। लेकिन, इस बार कैलेंडर और डायरी से उनकी तस्वीर गायब है और उसकी जगह पीएम नरेंद्र मोदी के फोटो ने ले ली है। इससे पहले गांधी जी की चरखा चलाने की तस्वीर ही छपती थी। इस तस्वीर के बाद से सोशल मीडिया पर लोग पीएम मोदी विरोध कर रहे हैं।  
 
इस मुद्दे पर पीएम मोदी की आलोचना के बाद बीजेपी सफाई दे रही है कि गांधी को कोई रिप्लेस नहीं कर सकता, लेकिन अब खट्टर सरकार में मंत्री अनिल विज ने कहा है कि गांधी का नाम जुड़ने से खादी डूब गई। विज ने कहा कि मोदी ने खादी को बढ़ावा दिया है। विज ने आगे कहा कि गांधी सिर्फ खादी से ही नहीं बल्कि अब नोटों से भी हटेंगे। विज का ये बयान खुद बीजेपी और मोदी सरकार को असहज कर सकता है। विज ने कहा कि मोदी ज्यादा बड़े ब्रांड हैं। उनके नाम से खादी की बिक्री में 14% का इजाफा हुआ है।
 
विज कहा है कि गांधी का नाम जुड़ने से खादी डूब गई है। मोदी उनसे बेहतर ब्रांड हैं इसलिए गांधी की बजाय मोदी का फोटो लगाना खादी के लिए ज्यादा अच्छा है। गांधी की तस्वीर तो नोटों पर है जिससे रुपये की डिवैल्यूएशन हो गई है। जब विज से पूछा गया कि सरकार ने नए नोटों पर गांधी को क्यों रखा है इस पर विज ने कहा कि वो भी हट जाएंगे धीरे-धीरे।

Courtesy: National Dastak
 

The post गांधी की वजह से खादी की दुर्गति, अभी नोटों से भी हटेंगे गांधी- भाजपा नेता appeared first on SabrangIndia.

AAP leader Dilip Pandey targeted Prime Minister Modi over the issue saying the move only bolsters his “megalomaniac image”.

“It won’t be surprising if Gandhi’s image is replaced with that of Modi’s on currency notes. The whole thing actually demeans and brings down the stature of a prime minister. It does not behove his post. He has reduced himself to a megalomaniac,” Pandey told reporters.

Employees and officials of KVIC have opposed the move to exclude the image of Mahatma Gandhi from the cover of its 2017 wall calendar and diary that show Modi weaving khadi on a large charkha, in the same classic pose as Gandhiji’s.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had yesterday attacked the Prime Minister over the issue.

“It takes sacrifices of several lifetimes to become a Gandhi. You don’t become Gandhi by acting to spin the wheel, you may become a subject of ridicule,” he had tweeted in Hindi.

Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister, Singhvi said “Modiji first likened himself to Sardar Patel, now he considers himself to be Gandhiji. Because he (Modi) has criticized this one person, Modiji has not likened himself to him. That is Nehru ji”.

The Congress spokesman also hit out at Modi for removing HRD Ministry from the ambit of an Information Commissioner for passing an order under RTI for making public records of Delhi University from a particular year in which Modi had obtained a degree.

“An obsession bordering on narcissism has unfortunately become the hallmark of the Prime Minister. Our Prime Minister can’t accept any form of criticism. Constructive or otherwise”, he said.

He was of the view that what is happening in the country today is symptomatic of several islls.

“These ills are the politics of vendetta, of fear psychosis, punishment to those who disagree with you and self obsession. And if this is not curbed, then this can be fatal to our democracy,” Singhvi added.

Tyagi said, “Whatever has happened is condemnable. We will ask the Prime Minister to remove Saxena for this shameful decision and ensure that all calendars and diaries are withdrawn.”

BJP spokesaman Sambit Patra said an “unnecessary controversy” has been created over a “non-issue”

Addressing a press conference, he rejected as “false” the charge that Modi’s picture replaced that of Mahatma Gandhi in KVIC calendar, insisting that the Father of the Nation’s photo had not been used many a time in the past.
He said Gandhi’s photographs were not used in the KVIC calendars and diaries in 1996, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

There is no rule in KVIC that says only Gandhi’s photograph should be used, he said.

Targeting Congress and Gandhi ruling family, he said their love for the Father of the Nation’s picture was confined to the currency notes carrying his photo and that they “misused” his name for political purpose for all these years.

“The Prime Minister promoted Gandhi’s philosophies and these are reaching every household… There is one party which ruled for years in Gandhi’s name. They keep calling themselves Gandhis though they had no link with Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.

The sale of khadi through KVIC, a government body tasked with its promotion, was merely 2 to 7 per cent all these years but Modi’s efforts took it over 35 per cent, he said.

Modi has been promoting the values Gandhi stood for whether it is ‘swachhta’ or khadi, Patra said.
 

The post ‘Won’t be surprising if Modi replaces Gandhi on currency notes’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

According to news agency IANS, the cover photo of this year’s calendar and diary shows Modi weaving khadi on a large ‘charkha’, in the same classic pose as Gandhiji.

Modi’s image of wearing kurta-pyjama-waistcoat while weaving khadi on a slightly modern charkha has replaced Gandhi’s trademark photo of weaving khadi on a simple charkha and wearing his trademark loin cloth.

KVIC Chairman, Vinai Kumar Saxena, said that there was nothing unusual about the decision.

He told IANS, “The entire khadi industry (udyog) is based on Gandhiji’s philosophy, ideas and ideals, he is the soul of KVIC, so there is no question of ignoring him.

“In fact, he is khadi’s biggest brand ambassador, and his vision matches KVIC’s, of ‘Make In India’ by making villages self-sufficient, ‘skill development’ by generating employment among the rural masses, infuse modern technology for khadi weaving, innovations and marketing. Plus, the PM is a youth icon.”

As expected, the decision hasn’t gone down well with the employees of KVIC and staff working at its Vile Parle headquarters organised “a silent, soul-cleansing” protest wearing black bands on their mouths on Thursday.

One senior employee, while wishing to remain anonymous, said, “We are pained at this systematic easing out of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas, philosophy and ideals by the government. Last year, the first attempt was made by including the PM’s photos in the calendar.”

KVIC falls under the union ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises.

Courtesy: Janta Ka Reporter
 

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