Congress suffering from 'Modi-phobia': BJP on Khadi row

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress over its remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photo on Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) calendar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday called the former of suffering from 'Modi-phobia', adding that it hates Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Congress and other parties are bankrupt in terms of issues... Congress is suffering from Modi-phobia. They hate the Prime Minister," BJP leader Shrikant Sharma told ANI.

Drawing a parallel between the ruling party and the former ruling regime, Sharma said Prime Minister Modi has always promoted Khadi and Mahatma Gandhi's views, whereas, the Congress had only insulted the Father of the Nation and used him to loot the country.

"Prime Minister Modi has always promoted Khadi, and it is his efforts only that the sale of Khadi has increased so much...Nobody can replace Gandhiji, he is our icon. We are only pursuing Gandhiji's ideas. He wanted upliftment of the poor and that is what we are working towards. Congress used Gandhiji only to loot the nation. It is Congress which has insulted Gandhiji. We are only giving him respect," said Sharma.

Toeing the same sentiments, another BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also alleged the Congress of using Mahatma Gandhi for political benefit.

"Earlier when other faces also appeared on the calendar then Congress didn't have a problem with it. Now, this is issue being raised for political benefit. But, people understand everything. Some people used Gandhi ji for their party benefit, but Prime Minister is using Gandhi ji's views for the betterment of the country," Hussain told ANI.

In a big development, Mahatma Gandhi's picture weaving khadi on a simple charkha, wearing his trademark cloth has been replaced by Prime Minister Modi's picture in the same classic pose as that of the former in the KVIC diary and calendar.

However, it took a new turn on Friday as sources said the calendar never featured the picture of Father of the Nation.

Sources added there was no question of replacing Mahatma Gandhi's picture with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"There was no picture of Mahatma Gandhi on KVIC diary or calendar in the year 1996, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, so there is no question of replacing his picture with that of Modi," said sources.

Sources asserted that those igniting the controversy should understand that the sale of khadi was limited to two to seven percent during the 50 years of Congress rule while there can be seen an unprecedented growth of 34 percent in the sales of khadi products during the last two years of Prime Minister Modi-led government.