‘If Cong took rural areas seriously…’: Nitin Gadkari on poverty in India | Latest news India

Ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday that the position of India’s poverty would have been better if Congress had paid attention to rural areas during its regime.

“The Congress has never seriously considered the development of rural India. If rural India had been given priority, farmers would not have committed suicide and there would have been no poverty in villages,” Gadkari said.

“In India’s 75 years of history, Congress has consistently neglected rural development. Villages lacked basic amenities such as roads and clean drinking water,” he added.

Speaking at a rally in Maharashtra’s Arvi, the BJP leader emphasized that the saffron party not only represents Prime Minister Narendra Modi and himself but also the dedicated workers who have dedicated their lives to the party.

Ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the Union Minister also acknowledged the crucial role of party activists in his political journey.

Maharashtra polls: Gadkari recalls his early days as a BJP worker

Recalling his early days as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker, Gadkari, who is also an MP from Nagpur, shared memories of traveling on a scooter to nearby Wardha district, where he was speaking.

He said the district plays an important role in electing 62 of Maharashtra’s 288 MLAs.

Gadkari on reservation issue

Criticizing the Congress for its inability to effectively promote rural development, Gadkari stated, “If rural India had been prioritized, we would not see farmer suicides and poverty in our villages.”

Expressing his position on the reservations, he clarified that while he supports measures for socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged groups, he is against using religion and caste as political tools.

“We must strive to grow through our hard work,” he concluded, underscoring the importance of sincere efforts to move society forward.