At an event in Pune on Sunday, 10 February, Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari spoke about creating a caste-less society based only on unity.
“We don’t believe in caste. I don’t know how many castes are there at your place but at our place, there is no caste because I have told everyone that I will thrash those who talk about caste.”Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister
“In the society, there should be no discrimination between the rich and the poor, no one should be of upper or lower caste,” Gadkari was quoted as saying by ANI at the event organised by the Punaruththan Samarasta Gurukulam in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The minister – who represents the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat – also urged the crowd to help the needy, saying, “ We should provide the poor and humble with food, cloth and house. Serving the poor is like serving God.”
In January, Gadkari’s remark about politicians who don’t deliver promises getting beaten up had sparked controversy.
Congress’ Response
The Madhya Pradesh Congress tweeted that Gadkari had once again attacked Narendra Modi and his own party, the BJP. "Gadkari Ji has spoken out against the politics of religion – a policy followed by the BJP," said the tweet, adding, "When will you thrash those who ask for votes in the name of Hanuman Ji's religion?"
The tweet refers to how recently, several members of the BJP speculated on Lord Hanuman’s caste. Former BJP parliamentarian Savitri Bai Phule had called Lord Hanuman a Dalit, while UP minister, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary had called him a jat, and UP BJP councilor, Bukkul Nawab, asserted that he was a Muslim, reported NDTV.
The Congress has been seeing Gadkari’s comments as veiled criticisms of his party and even PM Modi.
Recently, after Gadkari said “one who can't take care of his home...cannot manage the country”, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi read the same as a jibe on PM Modi.
Gandhi subsequently tweeted about Gadkari’s “guts” for talking against his party, only for the latter to get back at him that he doesn’t need a certificate of courage from him.
Buzz About Gadkari as an Alternative to PM Modi
Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar stated over the weekend that the growing rumours about Gadkari as an alternative to PM Modi has left him “worried” for his close friend.
PTI reported Pawar as saying, “He (Nitin Gadkari) is my friend. We have worked together. There is talk about his name being pushed (as an alternative to Narendra Modi) and because of that I am worried about him.”
(With inputs from PTI, ANI and NDTV)
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