Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was also present at the function at the Kolayat area on Monday where they distributed sanction letters of the first instalment of grant aid under Mukhyamantri Gramin BPL Awas Yojana.
The cotton garland, symbolic of Mahatma Gandhi’s iconic spinning wheel, was offered to him by Congress office-bearers Rameshwar Dudi and Rampyari Vishnoi.
The minister, who was sitting on the dais, placed the garland on a table and later used it to clean his shoe.
The state BJP reacted sharply and criticised the minister’s act and demanded apology from him and Gehlot.
“The garland is a symbol of Gandhi’s spinning wheel. It’s an insult to Gandhi’s Khadi,” BJP state president Arun Chaturvedi said here on Tuesday. “Congress leaders, ministers and the chief ministers talk about Gandhism and Khadi, but they insult it openly. The chief minister should also tender a public apology,” he added.
When contacted, PCC president Chandrabhan said he was not aware of the matter.
The Congress disapproved of Ramesh’s action. “In the life of a nation there are certain symbols and one should become careful and sensitive about them,” AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said in New Delhi.
It was Gehlot who advised the Congressmen of honouring dignitaries with cotton spun to avoid wasteful expenditure on garlands and inculcate the values of austerity and modesty during the functions.