Known for natural lustre and rough texture, Khadi strands of late have turned livewire in more ways than one, due to increasing footfalls at khadi, growing sales and demands for technological upgradation, decent payment and working environs to weavers and bridling cost of the fibre. Debates veer around whirring wheels of Charkhas. Leading from the front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had launched Khadi promotion blitz in his talk shows on radio, waves a year ago, says the sales have almost doubled and more and more people purchase Khadi items now. Disputing the government’s claims, many say hype was being created by raising bogey of sales. Khadi and village industries top rung officials, keeping track of its sales and purchases across the country, wave ledgers to assert that purchases might be even higher than what had been c...