Gadkari's Fresh Rant Against 'Vested Interests' Opposing E20 Petrol: Money Going Out Of India

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has once again hit back at his critics, blaming vested interests for the growing controversy around India’s ethanol blending programme. At a public event in Nagpur, he claimed the pushback is the result of powerful lobbies that have lost business as India cuts its fuel import bill.

Blending Policy at the Centre

Gadkari described the campaign against him as “paid news” planted by those whose revenues were affected. India spends about Rs 22 lakh crore every year on fossil fuel imports, and ethanol blending, he said, directly reduces that figure.

His pitch remains that farmers benefit by becoming energy suppliers, the country saves on imports, and pollution levels come down.

He also underlined that he has never taken money from contractors, which he argued is why many of them are wary of him.

Spotlight on CIAN Agro

The debate intensified because of CIAN Agro Industries, a company run by Gadkari’s son Nikhil. The firm has seen its revenue jump from Rs 17.47 crore in Q1 FY24 to Rs 510.8 crore in Q1 FY26, with profits above Rs 52 crore.

Its share price has risen from Rs 172 a year ago to Rs 2,023 on the BSE. Analysts note, however, that the gains are not just from ethanol sales but also from “other income” and new subsidiaries.

The sharp rise has led to charges of conflict of interest. Activist Anjali Damania, who contested against Gadkari in 2014, recently accused his sons of malpractice. Gadkari avoided naming her but said all such allegations stem from the ethanol policy disrupting entrenched import lobbies.

Personal Defence

Gadkari compared himself to a “tree that bears fruit,” saying critics were throwing stones because his policies had worked against powerful interests. He also pointed out that his own vehicle runs fully on ethanol as an example of the policy’s practicality.

The minister added that politics has turned into a game of jealousy and ego, where tearing down others is seen as progress. He argued that despite attacks, people know how to separate propaganda from genuine reforms.

Policy vs Politics

CIAN Agro’s financial rise has created headlines, but Gadkari’s defence is that his ethanol policy is about the larger national interest, not individual companies. He maintained that ethanol blending reduces imports, benefits farmers, and improves air quality.

At the same time, the overlap between his family’s business and the government’s push has kept critics active. For Gadkari, however, the strategy is clear: he will continue to talk about sustainable transport and energy security, while dismissing attacks as a predictable feature of political life.

For now, the controversy shows no signs of cooling, with opposition questions around CIAN Agro likely to remain part of the conversation. Gadkari’s ethanol push has changed the energy debate, but it has also put him under the scanner in a way that is unlikely to fade quickly.

Via TheHindu