PUNE: Union minister for highway transport Nitin Gadkari on Saturday lauded Maratha chief Purushottam Khedekar on his seventy fifth birthday, celebrated at an occasion organised by the Maratha Seva Sangh in Pune.
Gadkari’s attendance and reward for Khedekar raised eyebrows, contemplating Khedekar’s controversial previous. Khedekar has beforehand confronted criticism for his anti-Brahmin rhetoric and his ebook advocating the bloodbath of Brahmins. In 2015, a bunch of historical past researchers from Pune slammed the then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for appointing Khedekar as the top of a committee to supervise the memorial venture of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s mom Jijabai.
Throughout the identical occasion, retired excessive court docket choose BG Kolse Patil made sharp remarks, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “liar” and urging Gadkari to imagine the prime minister’s position as an alternative.
“As an alternative of forcing a liar prime minister on us, why don’t you are taking that place?” Kolse Patil mentioned, addressing Gadkari as he arrived on the venue.
Gadkari, nonetheless, selected to sidestep Kolse Patil’s remarks in his speech, and as an alternative appreciated Khedekar’s work. Gadkari highlighted Khedekar’s contribution throughout the latter’s tenure as an government engineer in Public Works Division (PWD).
“I’ve identified Khedekar for a few years. As a PWD government engineer, he supported my selections to convey reforms when most others opposed them. As an example, we launched a scheme to award contracts to unemployed engineers, which Khedekar welcomed. The initiative helped many engineers transition into contractors throughout Maharashtra,” Gadkari mentioned.
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Recalling his first time period as Maharashtra’s public works minister throughout the BJP-Shiv Sena rule (1994-1998), Gadkari mentioned Khedekar was typically accused of ‘breaking’ the foundations.
“Once I investigated the complaints, I discovered that his actions had been geared toward serving to the society. I overruled almost 35 recordsdata towards him throughout that point,” Gadkari mentioned.
He recommended Khedekar for staying away from politics.
“I at all times advise these wanting to hitch politics for social work to first guarantee their household’s monetary stability. It’s lucky that Khedekar didn’t be part of politics. Had he joined a political occasion, he would have been branded by its id. As an alternative, he created his personal energy by working for the widespread individuals, which is bigger than any MLA’s affect,” Gadkari mentioned.
