Khattar distances from own minister, asserts Vij's views are personal

Haryana Chief Minister Manhor Lal Khattar on Saturday distanced himself from his Cabinet Minister Anil Vij's remarks, saying that the views expressed by him are his personal opinion and categorically stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not share the same perspective.

"I am not really aware as to what context he (Anil Vij) was talking about, it is his personal opinion. It has nothing to do with our party," Khattar told media here.

Khattar further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photo of spinning the charkha should not be subjected to politics and added that he was merely promoting Gandhiji's ideals.

"As far as Prime Minister Modi spinning the charkha is concerned, he was merely promoting it, it is not as if he wanted take over Mahatma Gandhi," he said.

Haryana's Sports Minister Anil Vij today found himself in the midst of intense political sledging from the opposition after he said that Mahatma Gandhi would be gradually removed from currency notes and that Prime Minister Modi is a bigger brand name than Gandhi.

"Since the time when Gandhi's name got associated with Khadi...it could not progress. The day Mahatma Gandhi came on the rupee, its devaluation started. Gradually, he will be removed from the notes also.

However, he soon withdrew his comment stating that he does not want to hurt anyone's sentiments.

"The comment I made on Mahatma Gandhi is my personal opinion, to avoid hurting anyone's sentiments I take it back," Vij tweeted.

Reacting to this, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav came down heavily on Anil Vij for his remarks, and branded the Haryana Minister as an unworthy son of the nation.

"This is very unfortunate. He (Vij) is an unworthy son of the nation for saying this.