Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari On Saturday he said the poverty situation in India would have been better if the Congress had paid attention to rural regions during its regime.

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

“In 75 years of Indian history, Congress has systematically neglected the development of rural areas. Villages lacked basic amenities like roads and drinking water,” he added.

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

In the run-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections, the union minister also acknowledged the vital 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 a scooter ride to nearby Wardha district, where he was speaking.

He said the district plays an important role in the election of 62 of the 288 MLAs of Maharashtra.

Gadkari on reservation issue

Gadkari criticized the Congress for not genuinely encouraging rural development and stated, “If priority had been given to rural India, we would not be witnessing farmer suicides and poverty in our villages.”

He expressed his stance on reservations, clarifying that while he supports measures for socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged groups, he opposes the use of religion and caste as political tools.

“We must strive to grow through our hard work,” he concluded, underscoring the importance of a genuine effort to advance society.