There is no dynasty in BJP, says Gadkari

INDORE - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Thursday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying he (Gadkari) did not belong to a political dynasty and had travelled in crowded trains many times.

In his first presidential address at the BJP leadership meet here, he thundered that neither his father nor grandparents were prime ministers.

“I do not have a pedigreed surname. I do not even belong to a political family.

“BJP is not a party controlled by a family or dynasty and this is what distinguishes it from most political parties in India, where the highest office is treated as the birthright of members of a particular dynasty.”

Although he did not take anyone’s name, Gadkari’s remarks were clearly aimed at Rahul Gandhi, whose father Rajiv, grandmother Indira Gandhi and great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru were all prime ministers.

Gadkari also made fun of Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to Mumbai when he took the local electric train.

“For you and me,” he told the delegates, “when we move in cities like Mumbai, travelling in crowded trains is a regular affair since we all are common citizens who routinely experience the daily suffering of the common commuters.”