Defending hike in traffic fines, Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that it is important to save lives and create a fear of law. In an interview to NDTV, Mr Gadkar said that the states will be responsible if they try to dilute penalty for traffic violations. Earlier today, he had appealed to states against softening a new law that imposes steep fines for traffic violations, a day after his own party's government in Gujarat slashed penalties.

Here are the highlights of Nitin Gadkari's interview to NDTV: