News Brief
'The Way Rahul Gandhi Speaks, Nobody Takes Him Seriously': Nitin Gadkari
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. (Representative Image)
Union minister Nitin Gadkari stated on Sunday (17 November) that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks should not be taken seriously.
He also expressed confidence that Maharashtra voters will support the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the upcoming assembly elections on 20 November.
"The way Rahul Gandhi speaks, nobody takes him seriously...I think people should not take his remarks seriously," Gadkari said in an interview with news agency PTI.
Responding to Rahul Gandhi's allegations that PM Modi is "suffering from memory loss like US President Joe Biden", Gadkari criticised Gandhi for speaking irresponsibly.
When questioned about the Mahayuti alliance's challenges following a poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections, Gadkari said that voters were confused (by the opposition) on a large scale during the Lok Sabha polls.
"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.
Gadkari stated that voters now recognise that the opposition's Lok Sabha campaign was built on lies and have chosen to back the Mahayuti under PM Modi's leadership in Maharashtra.
Addressing concerns about slogans like 'batenge toh katenge,' 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".
When questioned about Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's criticism of UP CM Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge toh katenge' remark, Gadkari stated, "First of all, 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.
Regarding Rahul Gandhi raising the issue of caste census, Gadkari remarked, "The real issue is about the welfare of villages, the poor, and farmers. The poor have no caste or religion. A Muslim gets petrol at the same rate as others."
