Congress president Rahul Gandhi praised Union minister Nitin Gadkari in a tweet on Monday but the compliment was nothing more than sarcasm directed at the government. (Photo: File | ANI)

New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi praised Union minister Nitin Gadkari in a tweet on Monday but the compliment was nothing more than sarcasm directed at the government.

The tweet was posted with a news report that quoted Nitin Gadkari as saying, to questions on the Maratha agitation for job quota: "Where are the jobs?"

Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Excellent question, Gadkariji".

Excellent question Gadkari Ji.



Every Indian is asking the same question.#WhereAreTheJobs?https://t.co/2wfhDxuA10 — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 6, 2018

The Congress party also put out a tweet with the same hastag, #WhereAreTheJobs?

We applaud Nitin Gadkari for being the first BJP Minister to speak the truth and courageously raise the question that we and the people of India have been asking, #WhereAreTheJobs?https://t.co/DC98xujWcd — Congress (@INCIndia) August 6, 2018

Union Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday had made the comments in Maharashtra, where the Maratha groups are protesting for quota in jobs and education since last week. Train services were disrupted and traffic in most parts of the state came to a standstill during the agitation. Seven people have also committed suicide during the agitation.

Nitin Gadkari's point -- reservations would not guarantee employment as jobs are shrinking and there is a freeze on government hiring.

Also Read: There are no jobs: Nitin Gadkari on demands for reservation

"Let us assume the reservation is given. But there are no jobs. Because in banks, the jobs have shrunk because of IT (information technology). The government recruitment is frozen. Where are the jobs?" Nitin Gadkari asked, responding to reporters' questions.

The Union minister also criticised the quota protest saying "backwardness is becoming political interest. Everyone says I am backward. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Brahmins are strong. They dominate politics, (and) they say they are backward."

In a tweet, Nitin Gadkari also clarified that the government was not planning to change the criteria for reservation from "castes to economic conditions".