Known for his impromptu statements, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari once again created ripples in his party leadership after he called the government a ‘vishkanya’ (poison girl) and asked industrialists not to depend on it for everything, saying it drowns whoever it goes with.
He urged people not to rely solely on it for investment, citing financial burden imposed on the Maharashtra Government by its ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’.
Referring to receipt of subsidy, as promised by government to entrepreneurs, the minister said that there was no certainty on when they would get subsidies since the government has to make arrangements for the same.
“No matter which party is in power, always keep away from it. The government is a ‘vishkanya’ and drowns whoever goes with it”, Gadkari said while speaking at the ‘Amazing Vidarbha’ conference on tourism development organized by the Vidarbha Economic Developer Council (VED) in Nagpur.
He also asked entrepreneurs not to wait for subsidy as there is no assurance as to whether one will get subsidy or when it can be received.
“If you want subsidy and get it then take it. But there is no certainty as to when one will get subsidy. One of my boys said that he wanted a subsidy for his Rs 450 crore project and asked me as to when he will receive it. I told him that there is no hope whether he will get the subsidy or not. The ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ has just started so the subsidy money has to be given for it and this has got stuck,” Gadkari said.
The minister further said the textile industry was closed for not receiving power subsidy. The best thing to do was to make own plans, he added.
Gadkari refused offer for PM’s Chair
It may be mentioned that on September 16, 2024, the Union Minister had also created ripples in power circles by revealing that he had turned down an offer for the Prime Minister’s position from a leader from the opposition, stating that becoming PM was not the aim of his life.
He said that he was loyal to his conviction and organization, and won’t compromise with that.
“I do not want to name anyone but a person told me, if you are going to become Prime Minister, we will support you. And I said, why should you support me, and why I should take your support. To become a Prime Minister is not the aim of my life. I am loyal to my conviction and organization and I am not going to compromise for any post because my conviction is most important to me. I think that this conviction is the biggest strength of Indian democracy,” Gadkari had said.
Gadkari cautions “BJP should not repeat mistakes made by Congress”
The no-holds barred BJP MP from Nagpur, after his party suffered loss in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, did not relent from cautioning his party’s leadership for not repeating the mistakes that the opposition and grand old party of India, the Congress committed earlier, leading to latter’s ouster from government. Recalling BJP veteran LK Advani’s remark ‘BJP is a party with a difference’ he advised the party leadership to uphold its trust amongst its voters by not treading the Congress path.
Speaking at a party meeting in Goa recently, the former BJP president and Union minister had said that if the BJP continued to do what the Congress did, there was no use of their (opposition) exit and BJP’s entry.
Gadkari not much in tune with BJP leadership
Enjoying a status which tends to make others in BJP insecure, Nitin Gandakri is probably the last of the gentle politician fitting the sincere mode left in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Apart from being one of the best performing ministers in Modi cabinet besides having close connect with the RSS, the basic features of Gadkari ought to attract attention of both Narendra Modi and other ambitious hopefuls, who would want see him cut to size. This probably has led to Gadkari to speak on issues, his party leadership would prefer to avoid.
Political pundits feel such qualities probably led to Gadkari ouster from BJP’s parliamentary board followed by Devendra Fadnavis being inducted subsequently in party’s central election committee, owing to latter’s caste profile and other factors, considered a must to ensure balance in party’s highest decision-making bodies.
Common things put first, both Nitin Gadkari and Devendra Fadnavis hail from Nagpur besides are also Deshashtha Brahmins, a caste having a prominent role in the RSS since its inception. Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat is also a Deshashtha Brahmin and hail from families traditionally rooted in the RSS, speak the same language and hail from the same region.
