ShRaVan KUmaR oR chieF dissenteR?
There is a lot of confusion among the BJP, for soon after demonetisation, there were rumours in Lutyens’ Delhi that a senior Cabinet minister had voiced his dipleasure at the move. It was whispered that this minister was Nitin Gadkari and given his proximity to the RSS, this led to conjecture that Gadkari was voicing the RSS view as well. But recently, while in Uttarakhand on 27 December, the Prime Minister singled out Nitin Gadkari for praise, calling him a modern day Shravan Kumar. This was on the occasion of laying the foundation stone for a strong network of roads that would make it possible for pilgrims to visit the Char Dhams, regardless of the weather. The PM was acknowleding Gadkari’s role in making this project possible. But the fact that he singled out the minister for praise also laid to rest some of the rumours that the two had a bitter falling out over demonetisation.