Modi on KVIC calendar: NSUI activists stage protest in Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 16:

In a belated move over hundred activists of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) today took to the streets in the Odisha capital protesting against publication of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph with a charkha on Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC’s) 2017 calendar.

The protestors who came in a bike rally from Gopabandhu Chhak led by NSUI’s state unit president Itish Pradhan held a demonstration in front of the KVIC’s office at Gandamunda here.

Shouting slogans against Prime Minister Modi for replacing his photo with that of the ‘Father of the Nation’ protestors burnt old automobile tyres and had a scuffle with the police when they were stopped in their attempt to barge in into the KVIC’s office premises.

Pradhan said Modi won’t be allowed to enter into Odisha.

Publication of Modi’s photo by the KVIC on its 2017 calendar and table diary has triggered a controversy with the Congress and other opposition parties taking strong exception to replacing Mahatma Gandhi’s picture. The move has led to country-wide protests for the last three to four days.

While KVIC Chairman VK Saxena had defended the move, saying there is “no rule or tradition” that only Mahatma Gandhi’s picture can be published on these item, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has clarified today that the Prime Minister’s photograph was used in the KVIC calendar and diary without seeking the sanction of the PMO.

An ‘upset’ PMO has sought an explanation from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises on the matter.