Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stresses need for education in Muslim community

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari urged the need for education among Muslims while singling out the community to have been restricted “in a handful of professions, such as running tea stalls, paan shops, scrap dealing, truck driving, and cleaning."

Addressing the convocation ceremony of the Central India Group of Institutions in Nagpur on March 15, he said, “The community that needs education the most is the Muslim community.”

The Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India further said, “Unfortunately, only a handful of professions have gained prominence within the Muslim community, such as running tea stalls, paan shops, scrap dealing, truck driving, and cleaning.”

He emphasized the importance of education, saying it is imperative for not just personal benefit but for the progress of society and the nation as a whole.

"Education does not just benefit you and your family. It develops the society and the nation. Knowledge is power, and imbibing this power is your mission," he added.

"If people from our society become engineers, doctors, IAS, and IPS officers, then our society will develop. We may pray in the mosque a hundred times, but if we do not embrace science and technology, what will our future hold?" he asked.

Gadkari also noted the achievements of former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, saying, “I believe that a person does not become great by caste, sect, religion, language, or sex, but by qualities. That is why we will not discriminate against anyone based on caste, sect, religion, language, or sex.”

"Dr. Kalam became a nuclear scientist. His contributions made his name known not only in India but across the world," he said.
Gadkari slammed caste-based politics, stating that he had no interest in pandering to caste leaders for votes.

"I am in politics, and caste leaders often come to meet me. But I am clear — I will live on my own terms, whether I get votes or not," he asserted.

"I once told a gathering of 50,000 people, 'Jo karega jaat ki baat, uske kass ke maarunga laat' (I will kick hard anyone who talks about caste),” he said while recalling a public meeting.