“Opp Running ‘Sinister’ Campaign,” Gadkari After Leadership Remark

Gadkari’s comment comes at a time when the BJP lost three crucial state polls in the Hindi heartland.

Union Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari. 

(File Photo: IANS)

Union minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari on Sunday, 23 December, said some opposition parties and a section of the media have "twisted" his statements, an assertion that comes in the backdrop of his "leadership should own up defeat" remarks, PTI reported.

Gadkari on Saturday said "leadership" should own up to "defeat and failures" also, days after his party lost polls in three Hindi heartland states.

He was speaking at an event organised by the Pune District Urban Cooperative Banks Association Limited (PDUCBAL). However, the Minister clarified his stance soon after.

It is unfortunate that my statements are trimmed as per convenience. My recent statement had no political reference, but additional comments were added and presented as news. What I haven’t said shouldn’t be quoted in my name.

Nitin Gadkari to ANI

Gadkari claimed that from last few days a "sinister campaign" was run by some opposition parties to create a misunderstanding between him and the BJP's leadership.

The senior BJP leader dismissed the “malafide” and “mischievous” reported used out of context by “detractors,” ANI reported him as saying.

Furthermore, he said that “conspiracies” were at play to create a wedge between him and the BJP leadership.

The BJP ceded power to the Congress in the recently-concluded Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Gadkari’s Statement Comes After RSS Leader Pitched Him as “Modi’s Probable Replacement”

Gadkari’s statement also comes after a prominent Maharashtra RSS leader, Kishore Tiwari, opined that he should replace Narendra Modi if the BJP were to stand a chance of winning the 2019 General Elections.

In the wake of the defeat, BJP leaders and Union ministers had said that the poll outcome was not a referendum on the performance of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

In his letter to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and General Secretary Bhaiyyaji Suresh Joshi, Tiwari said the BJP's defeat in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh was the direct outcome of "arrogant leaders" who implemented devastating decisions like demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax (GST), fuel prices hike and other anti-people measures.

The BJP’s defence of Modi, even after its colossal loss in three states, has drawn a lot of criticism from political commentators too.

Gadkari on “Leaders Owning Upto Failure”

Meanwhile Gadkari said some more about leaders owning up to failure.

In a cryptic remark, the BJP stalwart, who is known for speaking his mind, said that nobody is willing to own up to failure unlike success.

Success has many fathers but failure is an orphan, as when there is success, there will be a race to take credit but in case of failure, everybody will start pointing fingers at each other.

Nitin Gadkari said

"Leadership should have the 'vrutti' (tendency) to own up the defeat and failures. Loyalty of the leadership towards the organisation will not be proved till the time it owns up responsibility for defeat," he said.

"In politics, after a defeat in any state or Lok Sabha elections, the defeated candidates start cribbing and complain that they did not get adequate support," the senior BJP leader said.

He said a candidate loses because either his party is lacking somewhere or he is failing to gain confidence of the people.

(With inputs from PTI.)