Nitin Gadkari: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari believes that the government is a 'Vishkanya'. He said in an event in Nagpur that the government drowns whoever it goes with. Gadkari was talking about the lack of investment in Vidarbha, Maharashtra. He said, 'Everything should not be dependent on the government. My opinion is that no matter which party is in power, keep the government away... The government is a Vishkanya... it drowns whoever it goes with...'

Gadkari further said that there is no guarantee as to when the subsidy will be received. He said, '... Do not get into this mess, take whatever subsidy you want... When will you get it, will you get anything... there is no guarantee... right now my son has received 450 crores subsidy, and the money is deposited as tax, so he asked when will you get it, I told him to pray to God because there is no guarantee... will you get it... can you get it! Now the Ladli Behan Yojana has started, so they have to give the subsidy money for that work.'

Many sectors affected due to non-availability of subsidy

Gadkari has expressed concern that the Maharashtra government's Laxmi Behan Yojana may delay the payment of subsidies in other sectors. The scheme has been launched ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Under the scheme, married, divorced and destitute women aged 21-65 years will be given Rs 1,500 per month, with an annual family income limit of Rs 2.5 lakh. The initiative is expected to put a burden of Rs 46,000 crore annually on the state exchequer.

Gadkari said, 'The textile industry was shut down, they did not get power subsidy... the textile people were on the verge of shutting down... they used to meet me every day... the problem is that we plan on our own.'