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Gadkari said an individual’s worth should not be determined by their caste or religion and said he stays away from caste-based politics even if it may cost him votes.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. (PTI)
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday addressed the convocation ceremony of the Central India Group of Institutions in Nagpur, where he asserted the importance of equality and slammed caste-based politics in the country.
During his address, Gadkari said an individual’s worth should be determined by their qualities rather than caste, religion, language and gender. “That is why we should not discriminate against anyone based on caste, sect, religion, language, or sex,” he said.
Sharing an anecdote with the audience, Gadkari said, “I have told 50,000 people, ‘Jo karega jaat ki baat, uske kass ke maarunga laat (I will kick those hard who talk about caste). My friends told me that I may have caused self-harm by saying this. But I am not concerned about it; one does not lose his life if he loses elections. I will stick to my principles.”
“In our culture, it is said that ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ — the world is one family, may the welfare of the world be prioritised. Our culture never said that first my welfare should be done, or the welfare of my son should be prioritised, or the welfare of my friends should be prioritised. However, in politics, some people seek to ensure the welfare of their sons. They say, ‘give him a ticket, give my wife a ticket’,” Gadkari also said during the event.
The minister said he does not engage in such practices despite caste-based identity playing a significant role in politics, even if it costs him votes. He said he was aware that such practices take place regularly in politics but he maintains a distance.
He also said that people should demonstrate their capability to take part in the political process. He asserted that he will work for the public regardless of whether they vote for him or not, but he could not engage in caste politics.
Gadkari, a vocal critic of caste politics, had expressed a similar sentiment last year when he said that politicians who can’t win elections on the basis of their work talk about caste. Speaking to News18 India, Gadkari said the BJP or the RSS never discuss policies and ideas on the basis of caste, community or religion.
“Unfortunately, there is a competition among everyone to prove that he is backward…Our problem today is not caste and community – it is poverty, hunger and unemployment. How we can serve the poor, farmers, those living in villages, the marginalised on the basis of good governance and the right policies are what BJP works on,” said Gadkari.
(with ANI inputs)
- Location :
Nagpur, India, India
