On Thursday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari came to the rescue of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at an event after he was mocked by people during his speech, reported ANI.
According to reports, Union Minister Gadkari and Delhi CM Kejriwal had attended an event jointly organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Delhi Jal Board to launch projects to clean the Yamuna River. As Kejriwal began to speak, few people, allegedly BJP supporters, started coughing to mock the Delhi CM. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari soon intervened to stop the public from mocking Kejriwal and asked him to continue his speech.
#WATCH BJP workers troll Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, start coughing when he begins to talk. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari intervened and Kejriwal began. pic.twitter.com/tABmZJcreS
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2018
“It would be nice if there is a bit of silence,” requested Kejriwal after he was mocked during his speech. However, Gadkari stepped in saying, “You (Kejriwal) please begin (the speech),” and asked members in the audience to maintain silence. “Please maintain silence, this is a government event,” added Gadkari.
It is notable here that Kejriwal has attacked Gadkari with allegations of corruption several times in the past. Nitin Gadkari had even filed a defamation suit against Delhi Chief Minister, which was later settled after Arvind Kejriwal issued a written apology.
Interestingly, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his speech praised Nitin Gadkari, “Nitin Gadkariji has never made us feel that he belongs to a rival party. I don’t know about others, but the way he has showered love on us, I don’t think the BJP people have got that much love.” He further added that he hoped the Aam Aadmi Party government will have the same working relationship with the Centre, like the one it shared with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
It is notable here that the Delhi CM suffered from a chronic cough for which he had to undergo a surgery in 2016.
Besides Gadkari, Union Environment minister Harsh Vardhan, Minister of State for Water Resources Satyapal Singh and Kejriwal’s deputy Manish Sisodia were also present at the event.