'Hospital only for Hindus?': Ratan Tata asked Nitin Gadkari at RSS event. Minister reveals reply

Union minister Nitin Gadkari recounted a curious interaction with industrialist Ratan Tata. Gadkari was in Pune to inaugurate the Kausalya Karad Charitable hospital.

Speaking at the event, the BJP leader said that when he was a minister in the Maharashtra state government run by Shiv Sena and BJP, he was once asked to invite Ratan Tata to an event. An RSS functionary wanted Tata to inaugurate a hospital named after late RSS chief KB Hedgewar.

Describing the subsequent conversation, Gadkari said, "Ratan Tata said that he had never even inaugurated his own factories. He said he didn't know how to give speeches. I told him that he established Tata Cancer hospital, and the lakhs of Indians that it treats is important. I said that industrial growth is important, but social work is more important. Ratan Tata said that he can't say no to me, and decided to come."

"When he came, he asked whether the hospital is only for Hindus. I asked him why he thought so. He said that since it's an RSS hospital, he thought so. I clarified that the hospital is for everyone, and RSS does not do this (discrimination)," added the minister.