Union minister Nitin Gadkari revealed on Saturday that he was once offered support by a senior opposition leader ahead of Lok Sabha elections 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, said The Times of India report.
“To become a PM is not my aim in life. I asked the opposition leader, why should you support me and why should I accept your support? An individual’s conviction is the cornerstone of Indian democracy,” Gadkari said, confirming speculation that his name was being considered for the top post before the general election.
Earlier in March, Gadkari had said he was not in the race for the PM’s post and was wedded to the Sangh ideology.
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 standards.
With inputs from ToI
