In a statement that raised eyebrows in political circles, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said here on Sunday that those leaders who sold dreams but failed to deliver on their promises would be thrashed by the people in the polls.
Known for not mincing words in his speeches, Gadkari once again triggered a major debate in the national political circles through a statement which provides room for interpretation and a possible linkage to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking at a function here, Gadkari made a telling comment: “Sapne dikhane waale neta logon ko acche lagte hain, par dikhaye hue sapne agar pure nahi kiye to janta unki pitayi hi karti hai (The leaders who sell dreams feel good about themselves, But, if they fail to deliver their promises will be thrashed by the people at the hustings”.
Gadkari went onto add: “Isliye sapne wahi dikhao jo pure ho sakein....Mai sapne dikhane waale mein se nahi hu.Mai jo bolta hu wo 100% danke ki chot par pura hota hai (That’s why you only have such dream that you can realise. I am not one of those who sell dreams. I am the one who accomplishes 100 per cent of what I say”.
Though Gadkari’s comments are general in nature, they are bound to be linked with the lack of fulfillment of several promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Modi’s main poll promises like “Ache Din” and “Rs 15 lakh in of the bank accounts of each and every Indian” and creation of 2 crore jobs every year. Gadkari, who enjoys the total backing of RSS, is being seen as a person who might be projected as a consensual Prime Minister’s candidate in the post 2019 post-poll scenario in the event of the ruling BJP failing to get more than 200 seats in the polls.
Through his Sunday’s remarks, Gadkari has indirectly reminded Modi that he would have to pay for making promises that he could not keep.