Gujarat education minister asks citizens to fill potholes, says ‘no need to call government’

A statement by Gujarat’s Education Minister Kuber Dindor has sparked controversy after he suggested that citizens should take it upon themselves to fill potholes instead of relying on the government.

Speaking at an event in Godhra, the minister commented on the deteriorating condition of roads across the state following the first rainfall of the season, which led to the formation of potholes on several highways and urban roads.

He said, “You don’t need to call the government for potholes. Just get a shovel and some equipment, and fill them yourselves. It’s your duty as responsible citizens.”

The remark drew criticism as it appeared to shift blame onto citizens, suggesting that they had forgotten their responsibilities and expected the government to handle every minor inconvenience.

“How much time does it take to fill a pothole? Should the government be expected to do everything?” the minister added.

The comment triggered statewide backlash, even from within the ruling BJP party. 

The condition of roads in the state has deteriorated to such an extent that in Valsad, BJP members themselves staged a protest by sitting in the middle of a state highway riddled with potholes, where the road surface was barely even visible.

In September 2024, around ₹1.20 crore had been spent on road repairs in Ahmedabad alone. However, by the first rains of 2025, many of those same roads had already developed new potholes, raising questions about the quality of the repair work and use of public funds.