Oppn, BJP lock horns over KVIC row

The controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photo on Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) calendar turned murkier on Saturday after the opposition launched a scathing attack on the 'megalomaniac' Prime Minister, saying that the government's decision to replace Mahatma Gandhi's photo with that of the former was an assault on the legacy of Father of the Nation.

"This is abhorable. These people are full blown fascist for our country. Apart from the pain it has caused to all section of people of this vast country, this reflex very poorly on the government choices and priorities. Infact, this constitutes an assault on the legacy of Gandhiji and I think this would reflect in a most negative way for the government," Congress leader Om Prakash Mishra told ANI.

Prakash further questioned Prime Minister Modi as how can he symbolise charkha and replace Mahatma Gandhi, while adding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has got its priorities wrong and is attempting to rewrite history.

Resonating similar views, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Manab Mukherjee labelled the Prime Minister and the BJP government as 'megalomaniac'.

"It is not only that the Prime Minister himself was a megalomaniac but the whole government and the whole system is run by the megalomaniacs. How can Narendra Modi replace Gandhi Ji? I feel pity for him...very bad days are waiting for him," Mukherjee added.

However, defending the government's move, BJP leader Rahul Sinha slammed the opposition saying that those who are igniting the controversy over it are the one, disrespecting Mahatma Gandhi.

"Gandhi Ji's picture has been replaced many times. We all respect Gandhi Ji and there is no question of disrespecting him. Modi ji is trying to promote Khadi products worldwide therefore picture featured on it. We should not associate it with Gandhi ji and the people who are trying to do this are disrespecting Gandhi ji," Sinha 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In a big development, Mahatma Gandhi's picture weaving khadi on a simple charkha, wearing his trademark cloth has been replaced by Prime Minister Modi's picture in the same classic pose as that of the former in the KVIC diary and calendar.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 yesterday as sources said the calendar never featured the picture of Father of the Nation.