Gadkari Denies Benefiting From Ethanol Policy

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has firmly rejected accusations that he personally profits from India's ethanol blending program. He addressed the claims directly during a recent television interview amid growing controversy over E20 petrol.

The Conflict of Interest Allegation

Critics online have pointed to Gadkari's family sugar business as a potential conflict of interest. The claim suggests he pushed the ethanol policy for personal financial gain.

Gadkari called the allegation baseless during his interview. He said his sugar factory was established well before India's ethanol program even started. He noted that his sons currently manage the business on his behalf.

Putting the Numbers in Context

Gadkari offered specific figures to counter the claim directly. He said India procures around 1,500 crore litres of ethanol annually from nearly 550 producers nationwide. His family's business, he said, accounts for just 0.07 percent of that total supply.

"There is no question of us benefiting from the ethanol policy," Gadkari said, framing his family's involvement as negligible.

A Policy Gadkari Says Predates the Controversy

Gadkari traced his advocacy for alternative fuels back to 2004, long before the current backlash began. He said his interest has never been limited to ethanol alone. He pointed to his earlier push for electric vehicles and current interest in hydrogen, methanol, and CNG.

He also clarified a common misunderstanding about his role in the policy. Decisions on ethanol blending itself fall under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Gadkari's own ministry is instead responsible for setting vehicle engine standards and regulations.

Challenging Critics for Evidence

Gadkari pushed back strongly against claims that E20 fuel damages vehicle engines. He said not a single major automaker had reported related complaints. That list included Maruti Suzuki, which holds roughly 40 percent of India's car market.

He invited anyone with a genuinely damaged vehicle to file a formal complaint. Gadkari said his ministry would investigate individual cases and offer relief if warranted.

Why He Says Misinformation Is Spreading

Gadkari suggested that certain groups may be deliberately spreading false claims about ethanol. He argued the program threatens interests tied to India's dependence on imported fossil fuels. He said reducing that dependence, not personal profit, remains his real motivation.

The Bigger Economic Argument

Gadkari emphasized that India spends nearly 22 lakh crore rupees annually on fossil fuel imports. That figure covers roughly 87 percent of the country's total energy needs. He argued that ethanol blending directly reduces that dependence while raising incomes for Indian farmers.

Where Things Stand

Gadkari's rebuttal adds a personal dimension to the broader E20 controversy playing out this month. His comments reinforce the government's official position that the ethanol program remains safe, beneficial, and free of personal conflicts of interest.