Nitin Gadkari on caste politics: ‘Those who can't win elections…’

Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari has frowned upon the use of caste in politics and said that politicians who can’t win elections on the basis of their work talk about it. Gadkari was speaking to News18 India at the ‘Chaupal’ conclave on Monday evening.

Stating that it is the BJP’s commitment to ensure social and economic equality in India, Gadkari said the BJP or the RSS never discuss policies and ideas on the basis of caste, community or religion. He further. lamented that backwardness had become an issue of political interest.

“Unfortunately, there is a competition among everyone to prove that he is backward…Our problem today is not caste and community – it is poverty, hunger and unemployment. How we can serve the poor, farmers, those living in villages, the marginalised on the basis of good governance and the right policies are what BJP works on,” said Gadkari, who handles the Union Road Transport and Highways portfolio.

Asked if there was merit in the Opposition’s demand for a caste census, Gadkari chose to steer clear of the question of whether such an exercise should be taken up or not. He did, however, put forth an argument.