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Haryana minister Anil Vij has kicked up another storm before the dust settled on a decision to replace Mahatma Gandhi with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the 2017 face of the government’s traditional handloom and cotton industry.
"Ever since Mahatma Gandhi's name has been on the rupee note, it has devalued... Slowly Mahatma Gandhi will disappear from the notes," claimed Vij, who is a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), NDTV reported.
The minister did not stop there. "Ever since Mahatma Gandhi's name has been associated with khadi [hand-spun cotton cloth], it has not been able to make any progress."
"The sale of Khadi products went down... Removing Gandhi and placing Modi's photo (on the khadi calendar) is a good step. Modi is a much better brand name. Since Modi's photo (on the khadi calendar) the sale of khadi products has gone up by 14 per cent," the BJP leader added, according to NDTV.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar quickly dismissed the comment as Vij's personal opinion. "It is his personal opinion and has nothing to do with the party," he said.
The comment also received backlash from congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala who, according to NDTV, slammed the BJP for Mr Vij's remarks and said, "Modi government is doing exactly what the British did. Subjugate people, subjugate institutions and use the might of the power of the state to stifle every dissenting voice. But Modi ji, Anil Vij ji and the BJP must remember that Mahatma Gandhi will always live in the soul of India."
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Comments (48) Closed
Jan 14, 2017 03:36pm
Illiterates rule politics.
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Jan 14, 2017 03:51pm
India's demise is painful to watch. We looked up to their progress and now they're going down the Zia road.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:03pm
@Faisal
Nop we are on correct path, i believe in statistics not preaching.
Export are growing, GDP is increasing, Poverty is on revers slope.
One of the best time of my life. We need to focus on population control.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:06pm
The rise of fascism in its worst form.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:21pm
As an indian , all i can say is such foul mouthed politicians bring our neck down, all they are good for is only shaming of a nation .worth sending them one way to SIBERIA.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:26pm
Not a right statement. However there is no need to put any person's photo on currency notes. National emblem and monuments are good enuff.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:23pm
@Faisal , no sir thats not gonna happen , india is and will keep shining under modiji presence, dont pay much attention to such loud politicians please.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:27pm
@Faisal really Oh finally someone agrees with the fact that India is progressing. No person on earth can replace Mahatma Gandhi from our notes,minds even calenders. Khadi board should replace all modified calenders.These stupid comments by hooligans will reduce the youth support of Modiji.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:28pm
Yes in India there is a vast majority who dislike Mahatma Gandhi. He was assassinated for having soft corner for Muslims. Removing his picture from Indian currency notes are yet another way to defame his popularity.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:34pm
It's next to impossible but if it happens.....it will be a good start for india.....
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Jan 14, 2017 04:41pm
Great decision By Haryana Minister. Modi is much better choice. Thanks.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:40pm
Bapu G was great leader of previous century. He is role model for democrates and had utmost patience, simplicity, brotherhood. It is unfair to forget such nice person.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:46pm
@k you disagree with Faisal that you're going down the Zia road, you say: "Nop we are on correct path, i believe in statistics not preaching. Export are growing, GDP is increasing, Poverty is on revers slope. One of the best time of my life." Funny, but that is pretty much how it was in Pakistan in the 1980's too with a rapidly growing economy and sharp falls in poverty. Being blind to the damage done to the values of decency and tolerance that bind a society and nation is not worth a period of rapid economic growth, as a great price may have to be paid later.
In your case, you are in many ways far more vulnerable because your country has many more lines of division based on ethnic, linguistic, religious and caste distinctions. I hope your nation comes to its senses soon; you need half your army to control and brutalise just 7 million Kashmiri Muslims (and even that does not make them submit), how will you control the millions of others who will be alienated?
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Jan 14, 2017 04:44pm
It is india's internal matter. We Pakistanis should stay away from it. They have a right to do whatever they want to we should focus on issues related to us and Gandhi ji's picture v/s modi's is not our issue
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Jan 14, 2017 04:50pm
Oh lord! How times have changed... Modi is not even in the same league as Mahatma Ghandi.
Ghandi forced the British to pack up and leave India, after his peaceful revolt, after more than century of colonial rule.
Modi on the other hand, has advocated violence and racist policies and was himself banned from entering many countries, including the UK and US.
What a paradox!
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Jan 14, 2017 04:48pm
Modi regrets deep from his heart about Gandhi Ji being a Gujarati, marring his chance of becoming the symbol of India.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:51pm
@k this is what you hear by media, but on ground the reality is opposite, please wake up and do something until its too late.
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Jan 14, 2017 04:58pm
@Bipul well said...
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Jan 14, 2017 04:56pm
@The end is near I disagree have study his work. No one can be another Mahatma Gandhi no matter how great he or she would be
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Jan 14, 2017 05:20pm
@Muhammad: All sensable people know it well ,
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Jan 14, 2017 05:16pm
They will go to any length against anyone to satisfy their egos and get never tired of self praising ...
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Jan 14, 2017 05:23pm
what he said is correct.
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Jan 14, 2017 05:21pm
@The end is Near - Some Modi toadies are so smitten by his lullabies of Super-duper-power and Akhand Bharat that even the father of the nation Gandhi has no place in this fantasy world now. For them Modi will definitely bring back golden era of 'ancient plastic surgery'!!!
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Jan 14, 2017 05:22pm
by the way he minister has taken back his comment ,
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Jan 14, 2017 05:29pm
People are reading way too much into a sporadic comment. Majority of Indians are well educated and will continue to bring glory for India all around the world. So we need to relax.
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Jan 14, 2017 05:47pm
I view this news which is very tragic and pathetic from two different angles and both angles are unwanted to be honest and I really wonder and fail to understand as to how any Indian could even think alike. First none but Mahatama Gandhi is being over looked and his photo from the currency note is to be removed means to me at least if not others is like disowning one's father. Second Modi photo will be on the currency note proves that all those who governed India since 1947 were worthless and Modi is the best in the lot and thus his photo will be on the currency note. It does not matter to me as it relates to India but nevertheless I simply cannot help pronouncing that importance of Mahatama Gandhi cannot be overlooked by Indians till the dooms day. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Former Pakistani Diplomat in Kuwait / zaidi.formerdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Jan 14, 2017 06:05pm
@Zak For once I agree with you.
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Jan 14, 2017 06:09pm
I must say that I would agree with most of the comments made by my Pakistani friends. The biggest casualty of Modi's 'surgical strikes' has been the critical thinking faculty of the Indian public ( not that we had much of it to begin with ). We Indians have been reduced to sheep, similar to the ones in George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'. Also, may I add a disclaimer - I too voted for our current PM but I simply refuse to be a 'bhakt'.
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Jan 14, 2017 06:36pm
@Vivek Amar - Nice comment!
It seems 'bhakts' only see India through one prism - either you are with us or against us - be 'patriot' according to their definition or else - nothing else to be tolerated. Even if it comes to sidelining Gandhi - so be it!
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Jan 14, 2017 06:34pm
@sana-1 that's your cue.
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Jan 14, 2017 06:37pm
@Zak as expected uneducated comment from you.
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Jan 14, 2017 06:36pm
@Harmony-1© You are spot on !
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Jan 14, 2017 06:40pm
India must have other leaders on currency.like USA where Abraham Lincoln,George Washington.we must also have babasaheb ambedkar and swami vivekanad on other denomination notes like USA.
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Jan 14, 2017 06:46pm
@Vaibhav , agree with you friend, especially BABASAHEB AMBEDKARJI should be there on every note and legal tenders issued henceforth , liked that suggestion ,good one.
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Jan 14, 2017 07:20pm
I am an Indian and surely my vote is not for bjp in the next elections .. the rich are getting richer and richer and the poor are getting more poorer and poorer.. guys don't support someone Bli fly just because he is our pm... Bjp has been creating too much intolerance in our society. Period
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Jan 14, 2017 07:35pm
That is the best news I have heard so far for today.
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Jan 14, 2017 07:33pm
@Srinath you are not srikanth either...rich are getting richer not because of govt. but even after creating hurdle by govt.they adopted one child policy, provided good education and reaping the benefit. the middle class who provide highest number ms,phd scholars to usa and europe are now serving as role model for poors and providing hope; they are solidly behind modi.......
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Jan 14, 2017 07:37pm
Freedom fighters will be replaced with hate mongers . Soon the face of India with disappear if this mentality prevails !
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Jan 14, 2017 07:47pm
When the country is governed by communal forces, this is all one can expect from the rulers. Their first attempt to wipe out Gandhiji and then attack their next target secularism. Hope Godse is not going to appear on Indian currency notes.
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Jan 14, 2017 07:46pm
@nikus All one fake resume and fake experiences in US !
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Jan 14, 2017 07:48pm
@Falcon1
Wake up and welcome to the changed time!
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Jan 14, 2017 08:05pm
How about modi's photo on science n technology books doing so may increase the number of scientist in India.
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Jan 14, 2017 08:04pm
The worst part is that Modi belongs to BJP. Modi is doing great to develop our country but the BJP hooligans are making mockery of his hard work.
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Jan 14, 2017 08:13pm
Modi will be on the currency notes very soon instead of Bapu.
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Jan 14, 2017 08:33pm
Please read history before replacing M.K.Gandhiji photo. He was a very passionate and humane. Modi or Gandhiji just can't be compared.
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Jan 14, 2017 08:46pm
@Isabhai Surat wala I agree..Vallabh Patel is also better choice..
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Jan 14, 2017 08:58pm
Every individual has the right to his opinion, that said BJP and/or Modi never endorsed this person's opinion. Modi is the only PM in a long long time who is trying t reshape the nation with his fearless forward looking policies. Agreed, that some of these programs and policies dint work as expected, but then, 100 percent policy success rate can't even be expected. If Modi is voted out of power in next two terms, there will not be any more foolish lot than us Indians. Let the man at least attempt to do thin which earlier PMS dint even think of, for pushing India forward.
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Jan 15, 2017 11:25am
The minister is trying to replace a great cause of "common sense" with "non-sense"
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