Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, speaking at multiple campaign rallies in Wardha district of Maharashtra on Saturday, responded to Congress’s concerns over potential constitutional amendments by the BJP. Gadkari pointed out that the Congress had itself amended the Constitution during its time in power but now raised an “emotional pitch” about potential changes by the BJP. He argued that claims about the BJP altering the Constitution were baseless, citing the Supreme Court’s Kesavananda Bharti ruling, which protects the “salient features” of the Constitution from being changed. Gadkari also reminded the audience that the Congress government under Indira Gandhi had amended the Constitution multiple times without accountability.
At the rally in Deoli, Gadkari also addressed the issue of dynastic politics, contrasting the Congress’s political approach with that of the BJP. He emphasized that the BJP is a party of workers, where leadership is earned through dedication, not by inheritance. “The BJP is not a party of PMs born to PMs or MPs born to MPs,” he said, underscoring the party’s commitment to grassroots workers.
Gadkari also criticized Congress for neglecting rural development, particularly in Vidarbha, where poverty and farmer suicides were rampant. He claimed that if the Congress had prioritized rural India, many of these issues could have been avoided. He also lamented the lack of focus on essential infrastructure like roads and drinking water in rural areas during Congress rule.
In his address, Gadkari also expressed his support for reservation but firmly stated that he would never use religion or caste for political gain. He advocated for reservation policies that help individuals from socially, economically, and educationally backward communities become capable, thus promoting their overall progress. He concluded by highlighting the Rs 20,000 crore pumped into Wardha’s development under his ministry in the past decade and voiced his concern about the degradation of political standards.
