New Delhi: The BJP’s “dream” of India becoming a vishwaguru will one day come true even if the individual “dreamers” change, said Nitin Gadkari, Union minister of road transport and highways, in an exclusive interview with ThePrint.
Gadkari acknowledged that “change is the order of things”, but said he was convinced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would get a third term in 2024 and faced no threat from anyone, comparing the opposition INDIA alliance with a business that changes its name when it goes bankrupt.
He described the Congress-led INDIA’s politics as “a game of compromises, compulsions, limitations and contradictions” and compared it to the Janata Party coalition, which was formed to defeat Indira Gandhi but ultimately collapsed after a truncated term in power.
“I remember all the parties had got together against Indiraji— Congress (O), Jana Sangh, Lok Dal, Samajwadi Party— and a big alliance was formed. When a calculation was done, everyone thought they would win but Congress won (in 1980). So 2+2 = 4 doesn’t happen in politics,” he said.
Gadkari claimed that the present-day opposition parties had banded together because the BJP is “strong” and has done good work.
“They can’t defeat us individually— that’s why they thought of this alliance,” he said.
“Secondly, they have changed their name — when an industry or business goes bankrupt, it changes its old name and gets a new name. And then it opens a new account in the bank because after the NPA (non-performing assets), the bank doesn’t give you a new loan. To get a loan they have to come with a new name,” he added. “Jiska diwala pit chuka hai wo nayi dukaan khol rahein hai (Those who have gone bankrupt are opening a new shop).”
In a wide-ranging interaction with ThePrint Monday at his residence in Delhi, Gadkari also spoke at length about the BJP’s philosophy and history, his own ascent in the party, and even the controversy over the alleged Rs 250 crore-per-km cost of the Dwarka Expressway.
‘This is a party of youngsters’
Gadkari spoke animatedly of how the BJP is an “ideology-driven party” that has nationalism as its soul and has enshrined development and good governance as its mission.
Reflecting on the BJP’s journey since its inception in 1980, Gadkari credited stalwart leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani for laying the groundwork for the party’s ethos.
“Atal ji used to say Prime Ministers will come and go, the party will change, but the nation will remain. We work for the nation… Our motherland’s glory should always remain,” he said.
Gadkari said the party embraced change and fresh blood, but its own character was immutable.
“Those who were there yesterday aren’t there today, and those who are there today won’t be here tomorrow. Pehle dhoti waale log bohat party mai the ab koi dikhta nahi (before you could see many people wearing dhotis in the party and now you don’t). This is a party of youngsters so naturally there is a change. And change is the order of nature,” he said.
“But what is most important is that the salient features of the party can’t be changed. The BJP’s nationalism, good governance, development, sarva dharma sam bhav (equal respect for all religions), and socioeconomic upliftment — this is our character and this can’t ever change,” he said.
Gadkari, who was BJP president between 2009 and 2013, described his own ascent in the BJP to underscore that the party encourages new talent.
“There was a time when I used to paste posters on the walls. I had not ever been to Delhi, but this party gave me an opportunity to sit on the same chair which was earlier graced by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani ji. This party definitely gives motivation to youngsters. I was one of the youngest presidents of the party at that time. I think youth are given a chance. Generations change and we hand over the responsibilities to them,” he said.
He also took a dig at dynastic politics.
“There is no such condition in the party that a PM will beget a PM, a CM will beget a CM, an MP will beget an MP, and an MLA will beget an MLA. No, this is a party of workers,” he said.
“Atal ji and Advani ji have made this party big and by making us a big party, they have handed it over to us. We can never forget the work they have done for us and the party. And whatever we have today is because of those workers and those leaders,” he said.
‘We have to become the vishwaguru’
Gadkari said that the BJP had big dreams for India to not just become aatmanirbar (self-reliant), but also a vishwaguru (global leader).
“We have to become the vishwaguru — that is our dream. Sapna dekhna waale log badalte rahenge (Those dreaming this dream will keep changing), but one day we will be number one in the world,” he said.
“Our dream is to make India aatmanirbhar. What Congress could not do in 60-65 years, we did it in 10 years. We have an aim of making India a $5 trillion economy,” he added.
Gadkari claimed that the way the country is progressing is evident in the increasing exports, new opportunities being created, good infrastructure being built, and progress in all sectors such as water, power, transport, and communication.
“The politics of the 21st century is the politics of development. This country is getting developed. Road network has increased, and the industry has increased. We are the third largest economy and even Japan is now fourth. Our work speaks for itself,” he said.
These developments, he said, would bear electoral dividends too.
“The public looking at all the development work under PM Modi’s leadership will once again repose its faith in us. In 2024 too our party will come to power and Modi ji will be the PM,” he said.
‘Saved money’ on Dwarka Expressway
When asked to comment on the controversy surrounding the cost escalation of the Dwarka Expressway from Rs 18 crore per km to Rs 250 crore per km, as pointed out by in a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, the minister refuted the allegations.
He said that when the proposal for the Bharatmala highway project proposal, of which the Dwarka Expressway is a part, was submitted to the cabinet, the cabinet note stated that the project would involve the conversion of 5,000 km of two-lane roads to four-lane roads at a cost of ₹91,000 crores, or ₹18 crore per km.
“In the note it was written we can finalise the cost after the DPR (detailed project report). The Dwarka express highway is actually 29 km lengthwise but if you take lane-wise, it is 563 km. The estimated cost that CAG has written is Rs 18 crore per km but it is not an ordinary road. It has elevated roads, underpasses, and tunnels,” Gadkari said.
According to him the government “actually saved money” in the expressway project.
“The total lane km is 563 km but unfortunately CAG counted only 29 km as the distance was 29 km. There was one mistake from our side. When there was a discussion with CAG, our officers explained everything and they presumed that CAG was convinced and there was no need to give a written reply,” he said.
“In the last nine years, we have undertaken projects worth Rs 50 lakh crore and there was not a single charge of corruption. Actually, the cost of the project was Rs 597 crore — that was the tender cost. We awarded it at Rs 529 crore. So there was 12 percent savings,” Gadkari said.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)
Also Read: Oppn cries ‘scam’, govt says ‘erroneous’ — what’s in CAG report on Rs 250-cr/km Dwarka Expressway