"If I had not given a letter of support to Anna Hazare, he would have faced the same fate as Ramdev," Gadkari said, alluding to the midnight crackdown by Delhi Police on the yoga guru and his followers at the Ramlila ground during their fast.
"Congress went on saying that BJP was not with Team Anna, till we gave the letter. Their main strategy was to finish Anna's agitation," Gadkari said during an interaction at Goa Think Fest 2011 here.
"BJP was the first political party to support Hazare's fast as it was in the interest of the country," he added.
On the alleged nexus between Hazare and RSS, he said, "Sangh has said that they are with whoever fights against corruption."
The BJP leader also said that he did not mind Hazare distancing himself from BJP.
"I am not upset, whether he distances himself or not. But the party is clear that it will stand by anyone who acts in the interest of the country," he said.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks