In a way, the reaction by Anil Vij on Modi being a better ‘brand’ than Mahatma Gandhi and overreaction by Congress that BJP is trying to eradicate the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, both show a mirror to our society’s thinking.
Irrespective of the differences in opinion, one shall respect others’ opinion.
When Modi’s photo was printed on the promotional material of Khadi Village Industries Commission, it was Congress that objected to the portrayal. Having nothing else to complain, the otherwise a routine promotion got the attention of national news arena.
Perhaps, Gandhi himself would never have accepted the idea of him being epitomised on a permanent basis for the Khadi movement. With time, everything shall change. Anil Vij, one Haryana minister defended the move by the Union government saying Modi is a bigger brand than Gandhi and Gandhi’s image from the currency would also be removed later.
By defending Modi, in fact Anil Vij acted like a ‘proper’ congressman. Only congressmen defends their leadership and absolves them from any failures. Modi had already established his credentials in leadership and doesn’t need people like Anil Vij to support him. And, being a minister, Anil Vij should have known how to control his tongue, before wagging it like something else.
If Anil Vij sprouted from the RSS breed of politicians, it is high time RSS should teach its cadres the importance of ‘talk less & do more’. Like Narendra Modi himself said before elections, strategy and planning are not announced and neither informed to the press.
The reaction of Congress to the episode is equally abhorrent! First, why is it only Gandhi on everything that represents India and no one else? For example, the Islamic Republic of Indonesia has the image of Ganesha on its rupiah note. If one depicts the image of the Indian goddess of wealth Lakshmi on our currency, there would be an uproar and the step would be called a regressive, fascist one!
Rahul Gandhi said even Mussolini and Hitler were also good brands. He forgets his own grandmother and father were also good brands for tyranny and corruption!
The most unexpected response to the Khadi Village Industries Commission episode came from Tushar Gandhi, whom I held in high esteem. I could not understand why he choose to condemn the move of having Modi’s photo on the Khadi Village Industries Commission material. He may have political differences with Modi and may not subscribe to the RSS ideology, if that is what he was protesting to.
Tushar Gandhi, in his life time musts have witnessed his great grand father’s name linked to many not so pleasant things of the past. If Gandhi’s move to support the Brits in the WWII was widely seen as an act of sacrificing Indian soldiers to protect their foreign masters – all the while protesting the British in India, few years back there was a controversy involving Harilal, Gandhi’s eldest son raping his own daughter. At that time, Tushar merely clarified that Harilal had raped sister of his dead wife and not his daughter. Nevertheless, the rape took place and even Tushar Gandhi didn’t deny it.
Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy cannot be wiped out by replacing his photos on diaries and currency nor by the statements by Anil Vij. Whether one likes it or not, this is truth. In a nation, where the legacy of Ashoka and Vikramaditya still live on, even after thousands of years, erasing memory of Gandhi is not possible. Only fools attempt at that. Believe me, whatever Narendra Modi may be, he definitely is not a fool and knows how to use Gandhi to his advantage.