Government ready to pay 'political price' for stringent decisions in country's interest: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday, December 13 said his government is ready to "pay a political price" for stringent decisions like demonetisation and the GST, even as he admitted there are an agricultural crisis and rural distress in the country.

He also hoped the results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections won't be the same as the just-concluded assembly polls, in which the BJP lost three states to the Congress. Stressing that agriculture was a focus area for the Modi government at the Centre, Gadkari said it was a complex issue and its remedy would take time.

Drawing a parallel, the minister said anything can happen in politics and cricket and it would be wrong to assume that the assembly results were giving a reflection of what would happen during the 2019 general elections.

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He said development was the focus of the BJP and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, and they were ready to pay a political price for "certain stringent decisions" like demonetization and GST, taken in the "interest of the country".

The Minister for Road Transport and Highways said agenda of politics was different at national, state, district, and municipal levels and it is highly difficult to predict on which issue a political party wins.

"As far as we are concerned, our agenda will be developed and for this, we have taken a few stringent decisions like demonetization and GST. But I feel these issues should not be politicised as we are seeing its benefits in the form of a reduction in black-money and improvement in the economy," he said.

"For the interest of the country if we have to take certain stringent decisions and if we have to pay a political price, we are ready for it," Gadkari added. Admitting that there were an agricultural crisis and rural distress in the country, he said the government has been taking all necessary measures to ensure the sector grows significantly.

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"Agriculture is our priority, but we need to understand that it is such a complex issue that there is no immediate solution and remedy to the problems of this sector and it will take time.

"Also, unless the rural and agri economy becomes robust, unless we increase the purchasing power of the large population and improve employment and boost manufacturing and services sectors, we will not be able to achieve overall development of the nation, and this is our priority," he said.

When asked if the BJP's defeat in three states has dented the party's image, Gadkari said,

"It is matter of research on what parameters a voter elects a particular party during elections...Is it stability, economy or employment? But I feel that major part of politics is dominated by three Cs- cash, caste and criminals. Though this approach has changed to some extent, it still exists."