New Delhi: Reiterating that he was not in the prime ministerial race, senior Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday that he was a “pure RSS” man for whom the nation was supreme. Sounding confident that the BJP would get an absolute majority in the coming Lok Sabha polls, Mr Gadkari said the country would move ahead on the path of development under Mr Modi and “we are standing behind him”.
Taking part in a private news channel event, Mr Gadkari rejected the speculation about a fractured mandate and his being a possible BJP consensus prime ministerial candidate in that event, as “Mungeri Lal Ke Haseen Sapne” (daydreaming).
“I have nothing to do with it. I am not in the race. Modiji is the PM and will become Prime Minister again. I am from the RSS. Our mission is to work for the nation. The
country is progressing in terms of development and growth under Modiji’s leadership. We are standing behind him. Where does the question arise of my becoming PM?” the minister said in response to a related query.
Mr Gadkari said he spoke whatever he felt from within, and added: “Neither I dream it, nor there is any liaisoning, nor any PR... I have a bad habit... I tell before 10 lakh Muslims that I am a pure RSS man... vote me if you want, otherwise do not regret. I have the conviction to say this. I am not a calculated politician. I am a good BJP worker. The country is supreme for me. I work for it. It should be happy, prosperous and strong and become the world’s economic power.”
Asked why he was a favourite of the Opposition leaders, Mr Gadkari said he was a workaholic and believes in hard work.
“Whoever comes to me, my thinking remains positive. I tell my that officials he has come to me, which means he has some problems, so keep a positive approach and solve it. Receive (them) nicely and if not possible, tell the problems and why it cannot be done. I do not behave as per political calculation. This is my natural behaviour and that is why (my) opponents also becomes my friends,” he said.
