Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday raised concern about opportunistic politicians wanting to remain associated with the ruling party of the day and said such “deterioration in ideology” was not good for democracy.

He also said there are leaders who stand firm in their ideology but their number is gradually declining.

“I always say this jokingly that no matter which party’s government it is, one thing is sure that the one who does good work never gets respect and those who do bad work are never punished,” Mr Gadkari said, without taking names.

The minister was addressing an event organised by the Lokmat media group here to present awards to parliamentarians for their exemplary contributions.

“In our debates and discussion, differences of opinion is not our problem. Our problem is lack of ideas,” the senior BJP leader said.

“There are people who stand firm with conviction based on their ideology but the number of such people is declining. And deterioration in ideology, which is happening, is not good for democracy,” he said.

“Neither rightist nor leftist, we are known opportunists, some people write like this. And all want to remain associated with the ruling party,” he added.

Mr Gadkari said India is the world’s largest democracy and in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words, India is the mother of democracy.

“It is because of this speciality, our democratic governance system is an ideal for the rest of the world,” he added.

Mr Gadkari said politicians come and go but it is the work they have done for the people of their respective constituencies that eventually matters and bring them respect.

“Publicity and popularity is necessary but how they work for the people in their respective constituencies is more important than what they speak in Parliament,” he said.

Gadkari praised RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s oratory and said he has also learnt a lot from former defence minister George Fernandes’ “behaviour, simplicity and personality.” “After Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the person I was impressed with a lot was George Fernandes,” he said.

Mr Gadkari also praised former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur, who was recently conferred the Bharat Ratna posthumously, and said such people have made the country’s democracy strong.

“After stepping down as chief minister, he (Thakur) travelled in an auto-rickshaw and his condition was very ordinary,” he said and suggested that political leaders should take inspiration from such people.

“Today I feel that our democracy is going to be very strong after so long…. We all have the responsibility to raise the dignity and respect of Parliament,” he added.

Addressing the event, Union minister Ramdas Athawale said that in politics leaders keep switching parties. “It is not known which MP will move to which party and when,” he said.

“I am going to remain in power. I know which party is going to form its government,” Mr Athawale, whose RPI (Athawale) is an NDA ally, said in lighter vein.

Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor of the Congress and Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra of the BJD were conferred the best parliamentarian of the year awards at the event.

Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali, who has been suspended by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas of the CPI(M) received the best debutant parliamentarian awards.

BJP MP Maneka Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav were conferred the lifetime achievement awards at the function. Akali Dal MP Harshimrat Kaur and BJP MP Saroj Pandey received the best woman parliamentarian of the year awards.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

’Tis the season when the essence of goodness radiates all around us, and we are thrilled to announce the return of #BeautifulIndians, now in its third consecutive year. 

Proudly presented by Femina, a leading authority in beauty and fashion for over 60 years, and Mamaearth, India’s foremost purpose-driven beauty and personal care brand, this season continues our journey of recognising that genuine acts of kindness and positive actions are what truly enhance our beauty.

The panel for the first season of #BeautifulIndians included changemakers such as Ghazal and Varun Alagh, founders of Mamaearth; Harteerath Singh Ahluwalia, director of the Hemkunt Foundation; veteran actor Shefali Shah; new-age filmmaker, and author Tahira Kashyap Khurrana, and Femina’s Editor-In-Chief, Ambika Muttoo. From Raji Akka ensuring safe rides for women, to Ria Sharma empowering acid attack survivors to transcend their scars, and creators such as Sakshi Sidhwani, Raj Shamani, and Ranveer Allahbadia, we were privileged to honour these goodness ambassadors. Not forgetting the impactful voices of Taapsee Pannu, advocating for the disadvantaged, Manushi Chhillar, crowned Youth Icon of the Year for her empowering Project Shakti and Ayushmann Khurrana for actively supporting a multitude of social causes. These remarkable individuals were the crown jewels that defined season one.

For season two, the panel was graced by luminaries embodying diverse expertise – from Kulsum Shadab Wahab, executive director of the Hothur Foundation, to the talented actor Rasika Dugal, the visionary Kiran Verma of Simply Blood, the inspiring transgender rights activist Shri Gauri Sawant, celebrated filmmaker and writer Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, the dynamic duo Ghazal and Varun Alagh, founders of Mamaearth, and the visionary Editor-In-Chief of Femina, Ambika Muttoo. From the impactful Manvi Tiwari championing mental health, the entrepreneurial spirit of Urmila Asher (aka Gujju Ben), to the dynamic power couple Gurmeet Choudhary and Debina Bonnerjee, the eco-warrior Aakash Ranison, and the stellar contributions of stars like Vicky Kaushal, Rani Mukerji, and Sonu Sood. Together, we celebrated those who surpassed expectations, creating tangible and meaningful change.

As we embark on our nationwide quest to identify the next wave of goodness ambassadors, spanning from everyday individuals to content creators and celebrities, our focus continues to be on narratives that illuminate goodness in its myriad forms. Whether it’s a fervour for environmental stewardship, spreading joy to the less fortunate, or ensuring no child is left behind in the realm of education – these are the stories that inspire us all. 

Have a goodness story to inspire us? We would love you to be a part of the third season of  Femina Mamaearth #BeautifulIndians. Stay tuned to find out how…

With elections in the United Kingdom due in a few months and their party enjoying a significant lead in opinion polls, two senior leaders from the opposition Labour Party are on a three-day visit to India to speak to senior ministers as well as business leaders. Stating that India is a “huge powerhouse”, the leaders stressed the importance of the UK-India relationship, calling it a deep people-to-people connection spanning generations.

In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview with NDTV on Tuesday, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and the shadow business and trade secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, also spoke about the Labour Party’s support for the delayed India-UK Free Trade Agreement and India’s transformation in the past two decades. 

Shadow ministers, appointed by the leader of the opposition in the UK, take up roles mirroring the government and are responsible for not only scrutinising the policies of the government in their specific areas, but also questioning their counterparts in the cabinet in Parliament and other domains.

Deep Ties

To a question on why they chose to visit India now, when elections are due in both countries, Mr Lammy said, “The relationship between the United Kingdom and India transcends whoever is in government. This is an important strategic relationship, a history that goes back many, many generations, a deep people-to-people connection, as well as a business-to-business connection.”

The Labour Party leader said that, if his party comes to power, it wants to understand the views of the Indian government, as well as business leaders, and identify opportunities. The objective, he said, is also to underline that his party’s focus is growth.

With that objective in mind, he said, “We recognise that India, this huge powerhouse, growing economy, growing population, growth against the backdrop, where other parts of the world, and certainly in Europe, are not seeing anything like the growth, there are key opportunities for us going forward. Yes, we are working on a trade deal. But that is the floor of our relationship, not the ceiling. There’s much more to do in the years ahead.”

Trade Deal Delays

Asked about statements from the Conservative Party government, when former Prime Minister Liz Truss was in office, that the deal would be signed by Diwali 2022 and what the Labour Party would do if the agreement was not in place if and when it came to power, Mr Reynolds said he was aware that there were some worries about the elections in both countries affecting the timeline. 

“We have come to make clear that if the Labour Party does form the next government in the UK, this is something we support, that we would want to implement or continue those negotiations. Of course, for both sides, it is going to be a good deal. It is going to work commercially. But there are clearly areas where we can see the potential for that to be something very significant indeed,” he said. 

Mr Reynolds stressed that reducing tariffs for textiles imported to the UK from India and for scotch and whiskey flowing the other way were obvious areas, but access to services is also critical.

“People shouldn’t think that we just want to finish this trade deal, get it done – as significant as it would be – and that’s the end. There are a whole range of further areas of collaboration. We have talked to people about technology, about defence, about what collaboration on the green transition might mean, not just for India and the UK, but for the rest of the world. The collaboration that we could do together, could really have such a positive and beneficial impact,” he added.

‘Support India Joining UN Security Council’

On how the India-UK relationship has changed – with India overtaking the country to become the fifth-largest economy and poised to be the third-largest economy by 2030 – and whether the Labour Party backs New Delhi’s push for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, Mr Lammy said, “The levels of growth here, the growing, burgeoning middle class, the gripping of education and skills, the dynamism of the economy are exemplary. And there’s much to learn. I think, as I come here, and I have now visited India on many, many occasions. I remember one of my first trips 22 years ago, as a young minister in Tony Blair’s government, and the transition has been immense. “

“Let me just say, of course, we support India joining the UN Security Council alongside Germany, Japan, Brazil, and Africa as well, very, very important, indeed. The world is changing and multilateral partnership is essential. And in that sense, India remains and will continue to be a key partner of the UK and our allies. We have a long history. There’s much that we can do together in a dangerous world,” he added.

Kashmir, Khalistani Issue

Former labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn had been criticised for saying that he supported a proposal for an Independent Kashmir but the new labour leader, Keir Starmer, has corrected that. Another sticking point between India and the UK has been the reaction to the Khalistani protests at the Indian High Commission last year.

Asked for the Labour Party’s stand on both issues, Mr Lammy said, “First, Jeremy Corbyn is not in the Labour Party any longer. We have had dramatic changes since the 2019 election, led by Keir Starmer, and that is important to emphasise. And that has put us in a position where, once again, we hope to have the privilege of serving in a government.”

“…the issues of Kashmir are complex, 75 years old and beyond, they are centrally issues for India, for Pakistan and the Kashmiri people. And we understand that in the British Labour Party,” he said.

Mr Lammy also reiterated that his party has zero tolerance for “extremist behaviour”. 

Racist Rhetoric?

On the anti-immigration rhetoric by Conservative MP and former home secretary Suella Braverman and others, Mr Reynolds said India and the UK share a strong relationship and his country is welcoming. 

Asked whether he thought the recent rhetoric was racist, he said, “I think a lot of what we’ve seen from the Conservative government on immigration, how they’ve tackled this, yes. How they fundamentally, I think, sent out a message that might be unwelcoming, it is a challenge, it is a problem.”

The Labour Party, he said, recognises the benefit of the global economy and championing its strengths, including higher education.

Rishi Sunak As PM

To a question on Rishi Sunak becoming Prime Minister being celebrated in India and the Labour Party’s declining support among the Indian community in Great Britain, Mr Lammy spoke about the history between the two countries, pointed out his own personal connection with India and emphasised that the relationship between the two countries “supersedes” the person who is Prime Minister in the UK or who is in power in New Delhi. 

“I and the Labour Party also took great comfort and pleasure in the election of Rishi Sunak as the first UK Prime Minister of Indian origin, and that’s personal to me. My family, my father, arrived in the UK from Guyana in 1956. My mother’s grandmother was from (then) Calcutta. She arrived in Guyana as an indentured worker after the end of slavery in the century before last. So, look, our history is immense,” the leader said.

“I think that the relationship between the UK and India supersedes whoever is in Number 10 or running India and I know you’ve got elections ahead, because it’s an important relationship. It’s an important partnership, not just a win-win for our two economies, but for the global community,” he stressed.

The two leaders also spoke about the role of Indian investment in the UK, both countries cherishing the democratic tradition and how the Labour Party is, despite its lead, not complacent about coming to power after 14 years.