Nitin Gadkari has been a man with a mission amid the Covid-19 crisis. Every day, he holds videoconferences with various stakeholders, listening to their concerns and offering them hope.
The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector has been the worst-affected by the lockdown. Several measures Gadkari had proposed have become part of the Union government’s ₹20 lakh crore economic stimulus package.
Gadkari spoke to THE WEEK on a range of issues—from highways and industrial clusters to politics and China. His mantra in these gloomy times: Be positive and self-confident to emerge victorious. “Kadam se kadam milakar chalna hoga. Koshish karne waalon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti (We should march together. Those who try, will not lose),” Gadkari said, reciting lines from a poem written by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q/ You are very optimistic in your interactions with industry bodies. Has it rubbed off on the industry?
A/ I have spoken to a lot of people, ranging from those in the entertainment sector and hair salons to restaurant waiters and owners. This is not the first crisis we are facing. Our country has always faced disasters like earthquakes, floods and diseases. There is an urgent need to build positivity and self-confidence in people. If this happens, we will win.
Everyone is facing problems. Some state governments don’t have enough funds to pay salaries. The government of India has seen its revenues drop. The banking system is facing challenges. Migrants are facing a jobs crisis.
Bu hikaye THE WEEK dergisinin June 28, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye THE WEEK dergisinin June 28, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
The female act
The 19th edition of the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival was of the women and by the women
A SHOT OF ARCHER
An excerpt from the prologue of An Eye for an Eye
MASTER OF MAKE-BELIEVE
50 years. after his first book, Jeffrey*Archer refuses to put down his'felt-tip Pilot pen
Smart and sassy Passi
Pop culture works according to its own unpredictable, crazy logic. An unlikely, overnight celebrity has become the talk of India. Everyone, especially on social media, is discussing, dissing, hissing and mimicking just one person—Shalini Passi.
Energy transition and AI are reshaping shipping
PORTS AND ALLIED infrastructure development are at the heart of India's ambitions to become a maritime heavyweight.
MADE FOR EACH OTHER
Trump’s preferred transactional approach to foreign policy meshes well with Modi’s bent towards strategic autonomy
DOOM AND GLOOM
Democrats’ message came across as vague, preachy and hopelessly removed from reality. And voters believed Trump’s depiction of illegal immigrants as a source of their economic woes
WOES TO WOWS
The fundamental reason behind Trump’s success was his ability to convert average Americans’ feelings of grievance into votes for him
POWER HOUSE
Trump International Hotel was the only place outside the White House where Trump ever dined during his four years as president
DON 2.0
Trump returns to presidency stronger than before, but just as unpredictable
