Gandhians oppose construction of Mahatma Mandir

Veteran Gandhian Chunibhai Vaidya has opposed the proposed 'Mahatma Mandir' in the state saying the Father of the Nation himself was against the concept of huge monuments.

"We are opposed to 'Mahatma Mandir' as Gandhiji himself was against the concept of huge monuments. If the state government thinks that by constructing a 'Mahatma Mandir' they were honouring the Father of the Nation, then they are wrong," veteran Gandhian, Chunibhai Vaidya told PTI.

He has even issued a statement co-signed by Gandhians Ila Pathak, Prakash Shah and Gujarat Vidhyapeeth vice-chancellor Sudarshan Iyengar in this regard.

"In fact this would be an insult of the Gandhian principles. We are of the opinion that they are doing this drama (building Mahatma Mandir) to give their image a makeover," he said.

Modi wile laying the foundation stone of Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on May 1 had said that this Rs 100 crore monument was conceptualised as a grand tribute to the Father of the Nation.

Vaidya said Mahatma Gandhi is Father of the Nation and everybody has a right on him. "He (Gandhiji) in not the property of any one class. Even after knowing this, if the state government is using his name inappropriately, we have to say this with regret," he added.