Modi Calendar "instead of" Mahatma Gandhi Protest
Workers from an Indian government department have protested against a decision to replace Mahatma Gandhi in their official calendar with pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Staff at the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) said that they were "pained" by the decision.
It supports village-level industries, which Gandhi passionately promoted.
The KVIC said it used Mr Modi's photos because he had also been a big supporter of village industries.
Khadi, which is hand-spun cotton, was used by Gandhi as a symbol of self-reliance and protest against British rule.
The commission traditionally uses Gandhi's pictures in its official calendars and stationery. The decision to not include Gandhi this year has caused anger, despite a statement saying that he could "never be replaced".
Some workers on Thursday refused to accept the new stationery and held a silent protest in the KVIC headquarters in Mumbai.
"We are not against inclusion of Modi's picture on the dairies and calendars, but are pained not to find Gandhi's picture," the PTI news agency quoted a worker as saying.
"We simply want to know why Gandhi has not been given the space here? Is Gandhi no more relevant for khadi industry?"
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