Lucknow, Apr 04 (PTI): Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said state governments running in the name of socialism have "failed in terms of development" and therefore nationalism is the "lone alternative" which talks about socio-economic justice and 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'.

"The model of Communism is on the verge of extinction from where it emerged. It has ended in Russia and its flag is only left flying in China," the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping said while addressing a programme on Madan Mohan Malviya Mission.

"The world is changing, therefore ideology has to maintain a balance with technology and be people friendly.

There is a need to link faith, culture and heritage with new technology," he said.

"Dedication towards ideology is not wrong, but using it for opportunism and requirement is a problem," the minister said.

A politician thinks about five years, but great personalities like Swami Vivekananda, Malviya and Ambedkar thought about centuries, Mr Gadkari said, adding "Swami Vivekananda said that tolerance was our basic trait and there is no need to learn it from others."