Photo Courtesy - Nitin Gadkari/ X

Pune: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Saturday advised politicians to tolerate criticism. He said, “The king (ruler) should tolerate any criticism. It is the biggest test in democracy. If one wants to become the Vishwaguru (world leader), then one should follow Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s secular politics.” Gadkari asked voters not vote for dynastic politics.

He was speaking at a book release function in the MIT World Peace University in the city. He said, “The ruler has to withstand heavy criticism, which is the biggest test in democracy. Writers and thinkers should speak their mind without fear.

“The biggest test in democracy is the ruler’s ability to tolerate the heaviest criticism. He should reflect on it. This is what is expected in democracy. There should be a diversity of thoughts in India. But there is a problem of a lack of thoughts today. We are neither rightists nor leftists, we are opportunists. Writers and thinkers should express their opinion without fear. As long as the feelings of untouchability and supremacy persist in the country, nation-building will not happen.

“If you do not vote for dynastic politics, they will be straightened up within a minute. Some politicians insist that their wives or children should be given party tickets. People vote for such people and they continue to thrive. If the people decide that they would not vote for hereditary politics, such politicians will reform immediately. It is neither a boon nor bane to be a child of a politician, but they must prove their abilities and people should themselves ask their parents to field them in elections.”