Nagpur: Party workers should fulfil their domestic responsibilities first because those who can not do that "can not manage the country", Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said.
He was speaking at a gathering of former workers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), BJP's student wing, here Saturday.
"I meet many people who say we want to devote our lives for the BJP, for the country. I asked (one such person) what do you do, and who all are there in your family. He said I have closed my shop as it was not doing well....there is wife at home, children," Gadkari said.
"I said (to him) first take care of your home, because one who can not manage his home can not manage the country. Hence first manage your home and look after your children properly, then work for the party and country," he said.
Many see Gadkari's comments as the latest in a series of veiled attacks against the top leaders of his party, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.
On Sunday, Gadkari in Mumbai had said "political leaders, who do not fulfill the dreams they peddle, will get thrashed by people".
He further said that he was not among those who only show dreams. He does everything as promised.
In December last, he remarked that the leadership should own up to failures in the backdrop of BJP's defeat in the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
On the latest comment by Gadkari, the Opposition saw a "direct message" to Modi.
Meanwhile, the BJP sought to play down Gadkari's comments saying they were twisted and political benefits were being sought out of it.
