4 days Ago By TOI News Desk
Union minister Nitin Gadkari (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday made a cutting remark on Rahul Gandhi , saying that nobody takes the Congress leader seriously as he "speaks irresponsibly". When asked about Rahul Gandhi's dig at PM Modi , who he said was "suffering from memory loss" like outgoing US President Joe Biden, Nitin Gadkari said: "The way Rahul Gandhi speaks, nobody takes him seriously. I think people should not take his remarks seriously".
The Union minister also played down the Congress's pitch for a nationwide caste census , saying the "real issue is about the welfare of villages, the poor and farmers". "The poor have no caste and religion. A Muslim gets petrol at the same rate as others.
Asked if would like to become the BJP president, Gadkari said, "I have been the BJP president earlier and don't have any desire for that post now," the minister said in an interview with news agency PTI. Gadkari also spoke about the BJP's dismal performance in this year's general polls while acknowledging that the opposition's narrative swayed voters away from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). "A narrative was created that if we win 400-plus seats, we will amend the Constitution drafted by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar," the senior BJP leader said.
"There is no question of changing the Constitution. We will neither do it, nor allow others to do it," Gadkari told PTI. The minister further claimed that now voters have released that the opposition's poll campaign was based on lies and that the people of Maharashtra will repose faith in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the November 20 state assembly elections.
"Now people have realised that the campaign by the opposition during Lok Sabha polls was based on lies and they have decided to support with positivity the Mahayuti in Maharashtra under PM Modi's leadership," Gadkari added. 'Batenge toh katenge a call for unity' Speaking on BJP's 'batenge toh katenge' call in the recent and ongoing assembly poll campaigns, Gadkari said: "We are contesting the elections on the plank of development. We are all one.
Some go to temple, some to mosque, gurdwara and church. But we are all Bharatiya and the country is above everything else for us." He also clarified Ajit Pawar's reservation with the slogan, saying, "We are different parties and it is not necessary that we share the same opinion".
"Media also distorts what is said. This creates misconceptions. The call for unity was to unite against terrorism and Naxalism," he said.
Earlier, Ajit Pawar, who is BJP's ally and Maharashtra deputy CM had voiced his opposition to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge toh katenge' remark, indicating a growing rift within the Mahayuti, comprising BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena..
