Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Aug 11 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recalled on Monday the inclusive social engineering by BJP stalwart late Gopinath Munde, who united OBCs and other sections of society.
“Munde taught me never to compromise with power while in opposition,” he said after unveiling a 14-feet-tall statue of Munde in Latur and virtually inaugurating a 5 MW solar power generation project.
“Politicians should learn from Munde, who brought OBC together while ensuring that no other section is sidelined. He was the leader of all communities who never wavered from his stated position. He has also supported the renaming of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,” he said.
When a community is prospering, there is no need to hate another community, he said.
Fadnavis stated that the masses loved Munde because he strived for the prosperity of all communities.
“Politicians should follow Munde’s vision of inclusivity without holding grudges against any other community,” he said.
Fadnavis recalled Munde’s achievements, including becoming the president of the Maharashtra BJP unit at the young age of 35, shouldering the responsibility of leader of the opposition in the assembly, and serving as the home minister.
“Ruling parties used to be on their toes anticipating Munde’s speech when he was the opposition leader. On the contrary, leaders today make statements in the air, and the media too doesn’t counter them,” he said.
Munde was a strict home minister who is credited with introducing the stringent MCOCA to curb crime.
“During his tenure, a bullet was answered with a bullet. He had exposed scams through a Sangharsh Yatra”, Fadnavis said.
He recalled that joint efforts by Munde and Bal Thackeray fostered a Shiv Sena-BJP alliance which came to power in 1995.
Fadnavis said Munde never compromised on his principles and endeared himself to the masses by taking up their cause.
“He taught me not to compromise on principles, and I am following his advice to date”, Fadnavis added.
He said that had Munde been alive, he would have become one of the shining stars in the Union cabinet.
Munde, a former deputy leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha, was appointed as the Rural Development Minister by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he assumed office in 2014.
He died in a road accident in the early hours of June 3, 2014.
“Munde taught me never to compromise with power while in opposition, a lesson that guided me in my political career,” Fadnavis said.
He used to tell me that when you are in the opposition, never compromise with power, always struggle, the chief minister said.
“When I was in opposition earlier and recently for two-and-a-half years, I never compromised with power”, he added.
Recalling Munde’s role in dismantling the underworld network in Mumbai, Fadnavis said he had brought relief to people and the business community.
“His guidance helped me learn a lot in politics,” he added.
Fadnavis recalled that at a rally in the past, Munde had said, “Narendra at the Centre, and Devendra at the state.” “After the rally, when asked by the media, Fadnavis said he had replied in jest that Munde had been ‘loaned’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would be brought back as chief minister after the Assembly elections”, he added.
Fadnavis said the government would divert 54 TMC of water that goes into the sea to the parched Marathwada region.
Munde hailed from Beed in Marathwada.
“His dream of bringing a railway to Beed will be fulfilled soon. The coach factory in Latur will generate employment for 10,000 people once the production starts next year,” the chief minister said. PTI AW ND NSK
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