Union minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari on Monday said reservation is necessary for progress of members of a socially and economically backward community, but the quota system alone cannot ensure their complete development.
He emphasised on progress of a community through education, social and economic means.
Gadkari also talked about leadership beyond caste considerations and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi "for never invoking his caste".
The Union minister was addressing the gathering at the 'Akhil Bhartiya Mali Samaj Mahaadiveshan', organised by the Mahatma Phule Shikshan Sanstha.
Mali community leaders, speaking at the event earlier, demanded, among other things, more representation and election tickets for members of their social group, which falls in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Gadkari, later addressing the gathering, said such demands are very common from every community and asked them to look beyond such assertions.
The BJP leader said he has personally experienced that community getting maximum ministers does not mean members of that social group will progress.
Gadkari said, "When people fail to get ticket on the basis of their works (krututva) they play caste card."
"I want to ask - did George Fernandes (a former Union minister and socialist stalwart) belong to any caste? He did not belong to any caste...he was a Christian. Did Indira Gandhi come to power because of caste?
Gadkari said, "In politics those who do good work, don't have to ask for votes as the votes come to them naturally."
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