Porbandar: On his first visit to Gujarat
as BJP president, Nitin Gadkari on Saturday drew parallels between
the Mahatma Gandhi and Narendra Modi, saying both believed
that politics was an instrument to alleviate poverty.
Gadkari, whose visit coincides with the 61st death
anniversary of Mahatma, also said that Gandhi and BJP's
founding father Deen Dayal Upadhyaya believed in the same
ideals of national unity and equality.
"I am happy that I am at Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace
today and I also had the opportunity to unveil a statue of
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. Both were men who thought national unity
of foremost importance. Like him Gandhiji believed that
politics should be used as a tool of socio-economic
development and not as an instrument of power.
"Alleviating poverty should be the end of all politics
and a living example of that ideal is Narendra Modi who is
working tirelessly for the same goal," Gadkari told reporters
while inaugurating a special exhibition of sand sculptures
depicting the life and values of the Mahatma.
Gadkari and Modi also attended the 34rth Garib Kaliyan
Mela here and the Chief Minister said that as Gujarat
celebrates its golden anniversary poverty alleviation is his
prime goal.
"We are providing relief worth 1500 crores to more
than 50 lakh families through the Garib Kalyan programme. I
have taken it upon myself to organise 50 more melas," said
Modi.
Earlier, both of them attended a prayer meeting at
Kirti Mandir, Mahatma's birth place in Porbandar town.
The exhibition of sand sculpting has been organized
with a theme of Gandhian values and Modi announced that it
will be made into a annual event with next year's theme being
'Gandhi and the Environment'.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 30, 2010, 15:09