Nagpur, May 30 (PTI) Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said his sense of conviction and sensitivity stem from his association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

Speaking at the release of his Marathi book `Sangha-til Manavi Vyavasthapan’ (Human resource management in RSS) here, Gadkari said, “I learnt in RSS and ABVP that politics is an instrument of socio-economic reform.” This sense of conviction and sensitivity came from the RSS and its students’ union ABVP, the senior BJP leader said, after the book was released by Sunil Ambekar, communication in-charge of the RSS.

Personal relationships play a vital role in both politics and social work, he said, adding, “human relationship is the biggest strength of politics and social work, and I learnt it in the RSS.” “Mahatma Gandhi had once said that if you are helping a poor person, you can break the law, not once but 100 times. I decided to do the same,” Gadkari said, recalling the legal battle over e-rickshaws.

Electric rickshaws have put an end to the inhuman practice of a man carrying another man, as most cycle rickshaw pullers switched to electric vehicles, the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister said.

“This is my life’s biggest achievement,” he stated, adding that nearly one crore people benefitted from the switch to e-rickshaws.

“From where did I get such sensitivity? It comes from your conviction and from your `sanskar’ (values)….I am a swayamsevak (RSS volunteer) but I do not hold any post in the organisation,” Gadkari said.

He also spoke about the influence of senior Sangh leaders like Balasaheb Deoras, Bhaurao Vaidya, Dattopant Thengdi and Yadhvantrao Kelkar on his life.

The BJP leader also noted that “despite my RSS background, the CPI (M) chief minister of Kerala (Pinarayi Vijayan) and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee love me equally.” The minister also said that his image was “ten times bigger” that his stature.

People ask him about how he executes mega infrastructure projects, Gadkari said, adding, “If there is a will, there is a way. If there is no will, there is only survey, discussion, seminar, committee, sub-committee and research group.” He took inspiration from a senior BJP leader who routinely stood guarantee for party workers in legal or financial matters and even paid the fine if any worker defaulted, the minister said. “I learned from him. I have paid almost Rs 20 to 25 crore in my life to help people who genuinely needed support,” he added.

Gadkari also said that many people have a negative image of the RSS as there is a gap between its reality and its perception.

“I have always felt that the RSS struggles with perception versus the ground reality,” he remarked.

Sharing an example of his way of problem-solving, he recounted a conversation with the chief minister of Karnataka. “He asked me to find a solution to Bengaluru’s internal traffic issues. I suggested that we extract and sell the granite beneath the city to fund the construction of a tunnel. He was surprised, but I told him it can be done,” Gadkari said.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambekar noted that the number of RSS shakhas grew by nearly 10,000 in the past year to reach around 83,000. “But the RSS’s influence is not limited to these numbers. Its value system is resonating more widely than ever,” he added.

Gadkari’s book presents the RSS in a more relatable manner, Ambekar said.

“This book is not only about Nitin Gadkari, but also represents hundreds of social workers from the RSS and similar organisations,” he added.

The RSS leader also spoke of the `growing national confidence’.

“For the first time, Indians are starting to believe in India. This belief has influenced even foreigners. Even if robots or AI are developed, they will carry our `sanskar’. They will be our creations. We must have that confidence and pride in our nation,” Ambekar said. PTI ND VT KRK