New Delhi: Nitin Gadkari had made a name for being one of the most efficient and honest BJP ministers in Narendra Modi’s cabinet.
However, the reputation of the Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways has taken a beating in recent months over the ethanol blending policy that he has been advocating strongly. The Congress has repeatedly alleged that Gadkari’s two sons have been benefiting financially from the ethanol policy.
On Thursday, Gadkari rubbished allegations of conflict of interest, saying that “less than 0.5 per cent” ethanol is manufactured in his sons’ companies.
“In our country, the government buys 1,400 crore tonne ethanol. We had a sugar factory which is run by my sons before ethanol came and alcohol was produced in it. In the total supply, less than 0.5 per cent accounted for ethanol. A total of 500-550 industries supply ethanol. There is a tender that the Petroleum ministry comes out with for ethanol. And the Cabinet decides the price of ethanol,” Gadkari said at the News18 India Chaupal.
“I try to spread awareness about ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, LNG, hydrogen because in our country, fossil fuels worth Rs 22 lakh crore are imported. The people of Delhi know that 40 per cent of Delhi’s pollution is because of these fossil fuels. People’s life span has reduced. Also, does the fact that Rs 22 lakh crore go out of India align with our goals of self-sufficiency? Shouldn’t we become ‘aatmanirbhar’? Shouldn’t we end the pollution in the country by adopting cleaner fuels?” Gadkari argued.
The Indian government’s policy is to blend bio-ethanol with petrol to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, strengthen energy security, lower emissions and support the agricultural economy. The target for the percentage of ethanol to be blended is 20% by 2025-26.
According to the Congress, Gadkari’s “aggressive lobbying: for the ethanol blending policy represents a conflict of interest.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged last month that Gadkari’s sons Nikhil and Sarang run Cian Agro and Manas Agro, with Cian Agro’s revenue jumping from Rs 18 crore (June 2024) to Rs 523 crore (June 2025) while its stock price surged 2,184 per cent from Rs 37.45 (January 2025) to Rs 638 (August 2025).
“The father sits in the government making policies, while the sons make money,” Khera said, linking the exponential growth to India’s ethanol blending programme that met its 20 per cent target ahead of schedule.
Union Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri defended the policy and said attempts to criticise it by “vested interests” was meant to create confusion. His ministry has, however, conceded that older vehicles may require gasket and rubber part replacements.
