Union Minister Nitin Gadkari delivered an important speech at the Goa BJP executive meeting on Friday, where he stressed on the need for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to “stop making mistakes” and learn from history.
In his address, Gadkari highlighted the unique nature of the BJP and the importance of learning from history to avoid the pitfalls that led to the downfall of the Congress party. The meeting, which was attended by Goa BJP state unit president Sadanand Tanavade and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant among other leaders, was marked by Gadkari’s call for vigilance and integrity within the party ranks, PTI reported.
Gadkari’s comments came just over a month after the BJP failed to secure a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha elections, a development that has prompted introspection within the party.
“If we continue to do what the Congress used to do, then their exit and our entry will be of no use,” Gadkari said, stressing the need for the BJP to remain distinct in its approach and governance.
Taking inspiration from his mentor and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, Gadkari reiterated that the BJP must embody the principles that distinguish it from other political entities.
“Advaniji used to say that we are a different party. We have to understand how different we are from other parties,” he said, urging the party to stay true to its founding values.
Reflecting on the electorate’s decision, Gadkari said the BJP’s victories were a direct result of the Congress’s failures and warned that repeating those mistakes would negate the change that voters sought.
“If we make the same mistakes, then there will be no point in their leaving or our coming in,” he warned.
Gadkari also stressed the importance of politics as a tool for social and economic reform, underlining the BJP’s mission to create a corruption-free India. “We have to create a corruption-free country and for that we must have a plan in place,” he urged, giving a clear directive for the party’s future endeavours.
Addressing the contentious issue of caste-based politics, particularly in his home state of Maharashtra, Gadkari took a firm stand. He vowed to reject the prevailing trend of caste-based politics, declaring, “Jo karega jaat ki baat, usko padegi kaske laath (Whoever talks about caste will get a hard kick).” He stressed that a person’s worth should be measured by his values, not his caste.
In his concluding remarks, Gadkari asked the Goa BJP cadres to strengthen the party’s presence in all constituencies, with a view to retaining power in the 2027 Assembly elections. His message was clear: the BJP must continue to innovate and reform itself to retain the trust and support of voters.
Gadkari’s comments assume significance at a time when the ruling BJP has come under severe criticism from its parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Last month, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made comments that were widely interpreted as veiled criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhagwat disapproved of the Ahankar-san (arrogance) shown by the service (servant), a term Modi often uses to describe himself as the nation’s “Pradhan Sevak” (chief servant). Bhagwat had also condemned the “bitterness” that characterised the recent election campaign, suggesting it had jeopardised social harmony.
Many observers interpreted this as a criticism of Modi’s divisive rhetoric during the campaign.
