Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday, 3 December, spoke on a several issues, ranging from the recent rape and murder of a veterinary doctor in Hyderabad, the economic situation in the country, to the political mess in Maharashtra.
Addressing '#SaferRoadsforSaferLives,' an event organised by The Quint in association with Safer Roads for Gurugram and AB InBev, Gadkari referred to the Hyderabad incident and said that it had changed his perspective.
In a conversation with The Quint's Editorial Director Sanjay Puglia, he said: “I used to say that death penalty is too much. If a man makes a mistake, he should be given a chance to improve with punishment. But after seeing what happened in Hyderabad, I think that the culprits should be hanged on the road.”
The victim’s charred body was found on Thursday, near an underpass about 50 km from Hyderabad, and the news has gripped the nation ever since.
'Just a Phase': Gadkari on Economic Crisis
When asked about the economic situation of the country, Gadkari pointed to three important factors in the economy.
“Sometimes the global factors, the demand and supply, push and pull, or the business cycle tend to affect every kind of business in the country.”Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister
Gadkari added, “I think we're a fast-growing economy. This is just a phase. We have set a goal that by 2030 we will become the third-largest growing economy in the world. I am sure we will succeed. We will overcome the difficult situation that we are in right now.”
On 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' in Maharashtra
Talking about the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance, popularly known as 'Maha Vikas Aghadi,' he said that in politics there are no “friends or enemies.”
He outlined the difference in their ideologies but emphasised that there should be no bad blood between them.
“I remember that Vajpayeeji had told me that there can be a difference between the vote share but that should not lead to bitterness between the parties.”Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister
He further said, “Sharad Pawar belongs to Maharashtra. I am much younger than him... he's a very senior politician of this country. Even though our ideologies differ, when he speaks on Maharashtra or about the nation, I listen to what he has to say.”
Gadkari also spoke about the impact of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act: “The discipline has significantly improved since the new fines have been imposed.”
Ever since the Act came into force, on 1 September, many states protested it and termed the heft fines “unfeasible,” but the Centre has time and again justified the steep fine amounts.
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