Union Minister Nitin Gadkari delivered a pointed message to his own Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, stating that political power becomes "meaningless" if the party governs in the same manner as the regimes it once opposed. He made these remarks while paying tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 101st birth anniversary in Nagpur.
A Tribute and a Cautionary Note
Framing his speech as both a homage to Vajpayee's legacy and a warning for current leaders, Gadkari emphasized the BJP's foundational principles. Without directly naming the Congress party, he stated that the BJP was built on ethics, ideology, and public welfare, not on dynastic politics or personal ambition.
"This party was created to give a voice to the voiceless and empower the downtrodden," Gadkari said. He added a stark warning: "If we start doing what those in power before us did, then neither did their exit benefit the country, nor does our coming to power hold any meaning."
Ethics Over Dynasty, Nation Above All
The senior BJP leader used his own political journey as an example, asserting he did not enter politics to become a minister or to secure political careers for his children. He stressed that leadership must emerge from public acceptance and performance, not family lineage.
On the sensitive topic of dynasty politics, Gadkari clarified that there is nothing wrong with being someone's son or daughter. However, he firmly stated that party tickets and positions of authority cannot be claimed as a birthright.
He repeatedly returned to the example set by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, describing him as a leader who accepted both victory and defeat with grace. Gadkari recalled an anecdote where Vajpayee, after losing an election, went to watch a film titled 'Phir Subah Aayegi' with fellow leader L.K. Advani, showcasing his humility.
Vajpayee's Enduring Legacy and Guidance
Gadkari recounted the difficult early days of the BJP after the split of the Janata Party in 1980, when the party's foundation was laid at Mumbai's Bandra Reclamation Ground. He highlighted Vajpayee's belief that a committed party worker was the organisation's greatest strength.
Sharing personal memories, the Nagpur MP described an incident from the early 1990s when Vajpayee arrived at Nagpur airport. When supporters raised slogans projecting him as the nation's future leader, Vajpayee responded that what truly mattered was not who the leader was, but what kind of nation was being built.
Gadkari also shared crucial advice he received from Vajpayee during a turbulent session in the Maharashtra legislature. "Atal Ji asked me why violence was necessary to oppose something. He said our words should be powerful enough to become our voice, make an impact on the government and convey truth to the people," Gadkari recalled.
In conclusion, Gadkari reiterated the core message: "Politics is a game of compulsions, contradictions, compromises, and limitations. But even amid all this, our original character must remain intact. We are a party with a difference, committed to development and the progress of the motherland, not a party of a family."
