New Delhi, Dec 5: This is not the first time that opposition members have appreciated Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Opposition members continued this trend of showing bonhomie on Thursday as well and senior Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh representing Mavelikara Constituency in Kerala thanked the Minister for his sincerity and good works in the southern state.
Asking supplementary questions, Suresh, the seventh time MP, thanked Gadkari on behalf of the people of the state for taking “special care” of his native state. He said even the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other MPs from the state have lauded Gadkari’s steering of the ministry that has been carrying out extensive works on road projects.
BJP MP Rama Devi also made use of the occasion and congratulated Gadkari, who was once credited as being fly-over ministry for his successful stint in Maharashtra. “Itna active mantri bahut kam miltey haen (We hardly get such active Ministers),” remarked Ms Devi, who represents Sheohar Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar.
Answering questions, the Minister, however said it still remains a challenge for him to ensure 50 per cent reduction in road accidents. To a question from his party colleague Jugal Kishore Sharma, the Jammu lawmaker, Gadkari said the Modi government is giving top priority for construction of roads in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister, however, said at times in the name of protecting one single tree, construction of roads is obstructed. “I am environment friendly. But I would like to underline that development and ecology are not against each other, but complimentary to each other,” Gadkari said.
