‘Those who don’t keep promises, get beaten up by public’: Reactions to Nitin Gadkari’s ‘realisation’

In an apparent swipe at his own party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said political leaders who sell dreams to people, but fail to make them a reality get “beaten up” by the public.

The minister, who handles a host of infrastructure-related portfolios in the Modi government, asserted he is a doer and delivers on his promises. “People like (political) leaders who sell them dreams. But if these dreams are not realised, then they beat them up (politically) as well,” Gadkari said, speaking at a function. “I am not the one who only sells dreams, but I deliver 100 per cent what I talk about,” said Gadkari in a public function, where Bollywood actor Isha Koppikar joined the BJP and was made working president of the party’s women transport wing

His mysterious remarks, however, have triggered speculation in the BJP and rival parties with several Opposition leaders asking whom was the warning meant for. Many see it as his veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his poll promises during 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that the minister was showing his party “a mirror in a subtle way.”

“There is a realisation by Nitin Gadkari,” Dr Dinesh Varshney, CPI leader said.

RJD leader Manoj K Jha also expressed shock at the comment and wrote, “OMG!! Something is brewing!!! (sic)”

Here’s a collection of some Twitter reactions:

On the occasion, Gadkari also spoke about his stint as the state’s PWD minister when the Shiv Sena-BJP government was in power (1995-99). “Media-persons in Mumbai know what kind of a person I am as they have seen how I complete projects. They do trust me,” he said.

A few months ago, the Union minister had made comments that were said to have caused the ruling party much embarrassment. At an event he had said that some people in the BJP need to speak less. Politicians in general need to be more economical while speaking to media, he added.

Gadkari had also hinted that the BJP may have made false promised in 2014 “deliberately”. “We were very confident that we would never come to power, so we were advised to make tall promises,” said Gadkari during the show. “Now that we are in power, the public reminds us of those promises made by us. However, these days, we just laugh and move on,” he had said, drawing sharp reaction from some leaders.

(With PTI inputs)