Leaders who sell false dreams get 'beaten up' by people: Nitin Gadkari

After calling on the leadership to own responsibility for the losses in state elections, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has again made a statement that may not go well with the BJP's top brass. In another subtle remark, Nitin Gadkari yesterday said politicians who sell dreams to people and don't fulfill are "beaten up" by the public.

Addressing an event in Mumbai, Union transport minister in Modi government said: "People like (political) leaders who show them big dreams. But if these dreams are not realised, then they beat them up (politically) as well. Therefore, one should only commit what they can fulfill."

"I am not among those who show people big dreams, I do what I talk about," he said.



After BJP's defeats in three states in December last year, Gadkari had said that leadership should have the tendency to own up defeat and failures. The remarks were perceived by many to be directed towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

The remarks followed calls for replacing Modi with Gadkari. While prominent Maharashtra farmer leader Kishore Tiwari had written to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) saying Modi must be replaced by Gadkari, veteran BJP leader Sanghpriya Gautam earlier in January demanded Gadkari be made the Deputy Prime Minister.

Gadkari, however, later clarified that he was misquoted and alleged "there was a sinister campaign by some opposition parties and a section of the media to twist" his comments and "draw politically motivated inferences to malign" him and his party.

Gadkari was also seen seated next to Congress president Rahul Gandhi during the Republic Day parade. Seated in the front row, Gandhi and Gadkari were seen chatting and smiling while watching the grand parade.

AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also praised Gadkari for his work and being different from other BJP leaders. "Nitin Gadkari ji has never made us feel that he belongs to a rival party. I don't know about others, but the way he has showered love on us, I don't think the BJP people have got that much love," Kejriwal said in a function.

(Inputs from PTI & IANS)