Nitin Gadkari reveals political leader once offered PM role support, but he declined
Nitin Gadkari revealed on Saturday that he was once offered support by a political leader to run for the Prime Minister's post, but he declined the offer due to a lack of personal ambition for the role. Gadkari shared this incident at a journalism awards function, without disclosing the identity of the person or the specific time of the conversation.
«I remember one incident — I would not name anyone — that person said 'if you are going to become prime minister, we will support you,'» Gadkari recounted. «But, I asked why you should support me, and why should I take your support. To become the prime minister is not the aim in my life. I am loyal to my conviction and my organisation, and I am not going to compromise for any post because my conviction is foremost for me,» he added.
During his speech, Gadkari emphasized the importance of ethics in journalism and politics. He recounted a conversation with a senior CPI functionary, praising the late A B Bardhan as one of the prominent politicians from Nagpur and Vidarbha, despite Bardhan's opposition to the RSS. Gadkari stressed that honest opposition should be respected, stating, «one should respect a person who opposes with honesty, because there is honesty in his opposition....one who opposes with dishonesty deserves no respect.»
Gadkari concluded by lamenting the absence of individuals dedicated to their ideology in both politics and journalism today, stating that democracy will thrive only when the judiciary, executive, legislature, and media uphold ethical
