Nitin Gadkari alleges E20 criticism was a 'paid social media campaign' to target him politically

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Pic/PTI

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Thursday alleged that the recent social media uproar over the introduction of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20) was part of a "paid campaign" aimed at politically targeting him, reported news agency PTI.

Speaking at the annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Gadkari said that there was already clarity on the E20 programme among all stakeholders, including the automobile industry.

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"This social media campaign was a paid campaign. It was against ethanol and it was to target me politically," the Union Minister added, according to PTI.

The controversy gained momentum recently when the Congress party accused Gadkari of a conflict of interest, alleging that he had been "aggressively lobbying" for ethanol production while his two sons were associated with companies involved in ethanol manufacturing and had "benefited" from the government's ethanol policy.

The Opposition had challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a probe by the Lokpal into the matter.

Concerns about the impact of E20 fuel on vehicle performance - particularly a reported decline in mileage and potential harm to engine parts - sparked widespread debate online, with some users claiming up to 20 per cent drop in fuel economy.

When questioned about the implementation challenges of the E20 programme, Gadkari said that all relevant bodies, including the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and SIAM, had already shared their technical findings.

"Moreover, the Supreme Court ruling is also very clear on this," the minister added, according to PTI.

"I will just say that whatever it was, there was no truth in it. Everything has been clarified," Gadkari said firmly.

He went on to stress the economic importance of ethanol blending, noting that India's annual fuel import bill stands at nearly Rs 22 lakh crore.

"E20 is an import substitute. It is cost-effective, pollution-free, and indigenous," he said, adding that the policy supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India self-reliant.

"If these Rs 22 lakh crore go into the Indian economy instead of fuel imports, who will benefit? Shouldn't it be done?" he asked.

Gadkari also highlighted that the move to produce ethanol from corn had led to a windfall for Indian farmers, with Rs 45,000 crore in benefits. He pointed out that states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had recorded bumper production this year.

"Our agricultural growth rate is very low. So, this diversification of agriculture towards the energy and power sector is not wrong for the benefit of farmers," he concluded.

(With PTI inputs)