'Greatness lies in qualities, not caste, religion or language': Nitin Gadkari

Mumbai: Asserting that he does not believe in caste and creed, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister and BJP stalwart Nitin Gadkari, who is known for his plain speak, said that he often jokes that the greatest favour God bestowed upon him was that the Brahmins did not receive caste-based reservation.

“I tell them that no human is greater because of caste, religion or language, but only because of their qualities. In fact, I often joke that the biggest favour God has done for me is that I am a Brahmin and did not get reservation,” Gadkari said at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Halba Samaj Mahasangh in Nagpur, the constituency that he represents in the Lok Sabha.

He stated that in Maharashtra, while the Marathas hold significant social and political influence, the Brahmin community does not hold much importance or dominance; however, in northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, their presence is notable.

"Whenever I go there, I see that Dubeys, Mishras, and Tripathis hold considerable power and influence,” he said.

"I always tell people that I do not believe in caste and creed. No human being is superior because of caste, religion, or language, but only because of their qualities," Gadkari said, who is known to call a spade a spade.