KVIC calendar row: Narendra Modi's image used without permission? PMO seeks report

New Delhi: Amid a full scale row over the use of PM Narendra Modi's image on Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) calendar and diary, it emerged on Monday that it was done without prior permission from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). 

A report in ''The Economic Times'' quoted PMO officials as saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph was used in the KVIC calendar and diary without permission.

PMO officials further stated that PM Modi is really 'upset' with the controversy and the Opposition onslaught over what it calls the 'blatant misuse' of his authority by replacing Mahatma Gandhi – the Father of the Nation – on the KVIC calender and dairy, and has sought an explanation from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises on the issue.

The entire controversy began when Modi's image replaced that of Mahatma Gandhi in the 2017 wall calendar and table diary published by KVIC. 

Opposition leaders like Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal spared no opportunity to attack the Modi government over this issue.

Even the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Tushar A Gandhi, had also criticised the government over the issue.

"Prime minister models for polyvastra (polyesterene). Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) wore khaddar (khadi) to Buckingham Palace, not a Rs 10 lakh suit," Gandhi had said in a sharp tweet.

"Haath me Charkha, Dil me Nathuram. No sin in calling a spade a spade and a joker a joker on television," he added while demanding the government to disband the KVIC.

Gandhi was referring to his iconic great-grandfather's historic visit to Britain in 1931, when he met Britain's King George V and Queen Mary, clad in his trademark plain loincloth and a shawl.

In comparison, Modi wore a controversial expensive suit during US president Barack Obama's visit to India in January 2015.

In an earlier tweet, Gandhi had said, "Tera Charkha le gaya Chor, Sun le Bapu ye Paigaam, Meri Chitthi tere naam (Your spinning wheel has been stolen — a message to Bapu)... First, Bapu disappeared from few Rs 2,000 currency notes, now he disappears from KVIC office and calendar. Replaced by Rs 10 lakh-ka suit loving prime minister."

Protesting the KVIC decision, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam had said it is "an insult to the Father of the Nation".

With PTI inputs