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Nitin Gadkari at the recent launch of the Tourism Policy 2024 event in Nagpur
Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, made a jovial comment at the recent launch of the Tourism Policy 2024 event in Nagpur that has caused a hubbub in the social media community. Comments from Indian netizens are flowing on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the veteran politician.
The Tourism Policy 2024 event at Nagpur
The Tourism Policy 2024 event was held on Saturday near Nagpur airport where the Union Minister had jokingly commented while in a lighthearted conversation that if a freebie was offered anywhere in the world, Indians would surely be in front of the line.
"If there's anything available for free anywhere in the world, Indians are likely to be found at the front of the line," – Nitin Gadkari.
🚨 "If there's anything available for free anywhere in the world, Indians are likely to be found at the front of the line," says Nitin Gadkari. pic.twitter.com/cuKu3H4403
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) September 2, 2024
Gadkari, who has often been seen to make humorous and witty remarks, even shared an anecdote from his Switzerland trip at this event. Once he had visited a popular chocolate factory in Switzerland that was handing out free chocolate samples. He remarked that it was probable that most of those who stood in the queue for chocolates must have been Indians.
His wife who was beside him at the event, found this comment funny, but Indian netizens are not sharing the same sentiment. Citizens have indeed been angered by the remark from the Union Minister.
Social Media Reactions
An X user tweeted, “He is the first in line to beg for votes during election. Not common man. To get one vote they have to offer, plead to common man. This arrogance will be wiped out in next election for sure.”
Another wrote, “Which Indians are you talking about @nitin_gadkari ? Do they include those who pay IT, GST, TOLL and numerous other taxes and get the worst services in return? Or those corporates which get loans that they never repay? Or the people who you nurture for your vote bank politics?”
Someone else tweeted, “The man will destroy his own legacy with stupid statements like this.”
Maharashtra Tourism Minister Girish Mahajan and several senior officials and members of the Advantage Vidarbha Conclave were present on stage when Nitin Gadkari made the frivolous remark.