Congress leader responds to Nitin Gadkari

In response to Nitin Gadkari's remarks that a strong Congress is crucial for democracy, Maharashtra Congress leader Sachin Sawant requested Mr. Gadkari to talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about what he described as BJP's attempts to destroy opposition parties.

General secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, Sawant, said he is concerned over allegations that the BJP has misused central probe agencies in an effort to harass governments in states where it does not hold power.

"We appreciate whatever concern Gadkari ji has shown. But he should also speak to his leader Modi ji about the BJP's efforts to destroy opposition parties and democracy by taking charge of central probe agencies," He added.

"The Supreme Court too seems helpless. You are using probe agencies to harass governments of non-BJP parties," he alleged. The kind of politics being played in the country for the past eight years is unprecedented, he said.

"It will be in the interest of democracy and the country if he (Gadkari) talks to Modi ji on the mindset of the BJP to destroy the opposition party and the attempt to convert democracy into dictatorship," he said.

Despite the good sentiments Mr Gadkari expressed, he "is not unaware" of the dangers posed by the Modi government to democracy, Mr Sawant said.

Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday in Pune that he had a sincere desire to see Congress become strong at the national level and that it was important for democracy.

"One wheel is the ruling party and another wheel is the opposition. A strong opposition is needed for democracy and that is why I feel from the heart that Congress should become stronger at the national level," Gadkari said.

He said that other regional parties are taking the space of Congress as Congress is weakening. "This doesn't help democracy," he said.