'Not Sure Whether We Will Return For 4th Term But...': Nitin Gadkari In Nagpur

Nagpur: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has made a remark saying there is no guarantee that their government will return to power for the fourth term but what’s he is sure about that his colleague Ramdas Athawale will secure a cabinet birth. In a light hearted comment during an event in Nagpur, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari said, “It may not be guaranteed that our government will return for a fourth term, but what is definitely guaranteed is that Ramdas Athawale will become a minister.”

It’s often said that Republican Party of India-A (RPIA) chief Ramdas Athawale remains with the side which is likely to form the government at the Centre.

Athawale, in one of his old remarks in the Parliament, jokingly told Congress that when you were in the power, we were with you, and now when Modiji is in the power, we are with them.

King must tolerate dissent and introspects

In another remark, Nitin Gadkari has said the biggest test of democracy is that the ruler tolerates even the strongest opinion against him, and it leads to introspection.

Writers and intellectuals should express themselves fearlessly, the senior BJP leader said at a book release function held at MIT World Peace University here on Friday.

"The biggest test of democracy is that the king tolerates the strongest opinion against him and introspects over it," he said.

In India, there is no problem of difference of opinion but "there is a problem of lack of opinion," the Road Transport and Highways Minister said.

"We are neither rightist, nor leftist. We are opportunists. It is expected from writers and intellectuals that they express their opinions without any fear," he added.

Gadkari also said that as long as untouchability and notions of social inferiority and superiority persist, the work of nation-building can not be said to be complete.

With inputs from PTI