Nitin Gadkari has been a man with a mission amid the Covid-19 crisis. Every day, he holds videoconferences with various stakeholders, listening to their concerns and offering them hope.
The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector has been the worst-affected by the lockdown. Several measures Gadkari had proposed have become part of the Union government’s ₹20 lakh crore economic stimulus package.
Gadkari spoke to THE WEEK on a range of issues—from highways and industrial clusters to politics and China. His mantra in these gloomy times: Be positive and self-confident to emerge victorious. “Kadam se kadam milakar chalna hoga. Koshish karne waalon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti (We should march together. Those who try, will not lose),” Gadkari said, reciting lines from a poem written by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q/ You are very optimistic in your interactions with industry bodies. Has it rubbed off on the industry?
A/ I have spoken to a lot of people, ranging from those in the entertainment sector and hair salons to restaurant waiters and owners. This is not the first crisis we are facing. Our country has always faced disasters like earthquakes, floods and diseases. There is an urgent need to build positivity and self-confidence in people. If this happens, we will win.
Everyone is facing problems. Some state governments don’t have enough funds to pay salaries. The government of India has seen its revenues drop. The banking system is facing challenges. Migrants are facing a jobs crisis.
This story is from the June 28, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 28, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
There Is A Wind Blowing Against The BJP, And It Will Only Pick Up Speed
Interview - Akhilesh Yadav, Former Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh
Between hospital and home
Transitional care centres can add a lot to India's health care system
EFFORT VS EFFECT
The government's attempts to ensure quality drugs is evident, but how well new policies can be monitored on the ground remains to be seen
A way to let go of fear
Accepting the use of adult diapers is a journey with various stages-denial, concealment, rejection and reluctance
Mandeeps & a miracle
Two strangers, one deadly disease and an act of kindness. How Mandeep Mann saved Mandeep Singh, an acute leukaemia patient, by donating his stem cells
The A, B, C of cosmetic surgery
Between eight to 10 lakh cosmetic surgeries happen in India every year. Who is an ideal candidate, and what are the risks and results you can expect?
Vaccines and meningitis
In sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, and encompassing the northern part of Nigeria, there exists a region known as the African Meningitis Belt (AMB).
Celebrating diversity and inclusivity
As Indians battle it out in our nation's 18th general election, it is again time for voters to reflect on the \"Idea of India\"-or rather, on two duelling ideas of India that are now before us and between which the nation must choose at the ballot box.
Defendant: an Hermès handbag
When Hermès was hit with a class-action lawsuit last month for \"antitrust\" activities, it didn't see it coming. Most of the luxury world has all eyes on this suit, filed by two interested consumers who claim they were denied a purchase, and whether it would go to trial.
A legacy, bound
Amal Allana's biography of her father, Ebrahim Alkazi, is as much personal as it is historical