Nitin Gadkari talks of 'use-and-throw', political circles see it as barb at BJP

A comment made by minister Nitin Gadkari has set tongues wagging in political circles. Many have interpreted it as a veiled barb at the BJP.

A few days ago, at an event in Nagpur, Gadkari talked about how one should not adopt a "use-and-throw attitude" in relationships. This comment of his is being seen as a reaction to his omission from the party's top decision-making bodies.

The minister made this observation at a gathering of entrepreneurs in Nagpur. "Human relationships constitute the biggest strength of a business, social work or politics...In your good or bad days, once you hold the hand of a friend, you should never let go of it," he said to attendees at the event.

Gadkari's comment comes days after he was dropped from the BJP Parliamentary Board, a top decision-making body in the party, along with Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

He also recalled a friend who gave him a biography of former US president Richard Nixon. He said a line from the book benefitted him: "A man is not finished when he is defeated in a battle, he is defeated when he quits".

"One of my friends had gone to IIT. We used to lose elections. He gave me a book. There was a beautiful line which I have remembered and has been beneficial for me, and would benefit you too. It was written that a man is not finished when he is defeated in a battle, he is defeated when he quits. So one should fight. There should be positivity. There is a difference between arrogance and confidence. Nobody is perfect. We learn a lot from people. Nobody has a patent over quality," news agencies quoted Gadkari as saying.

At the same event, the Union minister also recalled how one of his friends suggested that he join the Congress. He said he rejected the offer because "he would prefer to jump into a well rather than join the party."