‘Person doing good work never gets respect and one doing bad work are never punished,’ says Gadkari

MUMBAI: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed concern over opportunistic politicians wanting to maintain ties with the ruling party. He said such deterioration in ideology was not good for democracy. He was speaking at an event organized in Mumbai by Lokmat Media Group to present awards to parliamentarians for their exemplary contributions.

Gadkari also opined that while there are leaders standing firm on their ideology, their numbers are gradually declining. ‘Irrespective of which party's government, one thing is sure. One doing good work never gets respect and those who do bad work are never punished,’ he said.

‘Differences of opinion is not our problem in our debates and discussions. Our problem is lack of ideas. Neither right nor left, some expose us as opportunists. Everyone wants to remain associated with the ruling party,' said the senior BJP leader.

Gadkari said India is world’s largest democracy and in the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is the mother of democracy. He added that it is because of this speciality that our democratic system of governance is being noticed all over the world.

Gadkari said politicians come and go, what ultimately matters are what they have done for the people of their own constituencies. Publicity and popularity are necessary, but what they do for the people of their own constituency is more important than what they speak in Parliament, the minister said.

Gadkari praised RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav's oratory at the event. He also said that he learned a lot from former defense minister George Fernandes' behaviour, simplicity and personality. He added that after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the person who impressed him the most was George Fernandes.