Days after controversy over calendars and diaries in which Mahatma Gandhi’s pictures were replaced with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) issued a notice to its employees on Wednesday.
A letter was issued by the KVIC deputy chief executive officer handling administration and HR asking employees to explain why they staged an “unauthorized protest” on its premises on January 12. In a show-cause notice, the KVIC has also claimed that the dispute had harmed the “image of the organization”.
The letter demanded KGKS’s response within 48 hours. But KGKS has termed it as yet another example of how “autocracy and dictatorship” entered the KVIC and now staff resorting to even “a silent protest” were sought to be reprimanded.
The KVIC had replaced Mahatma Gandhi’s image by the picture of PM Modi from its prestigious, annual calendars and diaries. The development triggered outrage across the country. The same day, the staff had performed prayers at the Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the KVIC Central Prayer Hall and staged a silent protest with black bands around their mouths.
