Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday claimed that some leaders within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were trying to damage <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/approved-100-per-cent-ethanol-fuel-use-to-cut-fossil-fuel-imports-nitin-gadkari-23635101" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Union Minister Nitin Gadkari&rsquo;s</a> image, alleging that he was being targeted because of his political stature.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut claimed that attempts were being made from within Gadkari&rsquo;s own party to create confusion about him.
"Gadkari Saheb should give a presentation on this entire matter. The confusion that has been created in people's minds is because of people from his own party," the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said.
"Those trying to defame Nitin Gadkari are none other than people from the Bharatiya Janata Party itself. They want to trap him in one way or another," he added.
<h2>Raut claims Gadkari being targeted over leadership position</h2>
<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/maharashtra-needs-cultured-chief-minister-says-sanjay-raut-targeting-devendra-fadnavis-23638981" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader</a> referred to previous political developments and alleged that similar attempts had been made against Gadkari in the past.
"Like before 2014, when discussions were going on about his second term as party president, attempts were made to trap him even then."
Raut further claimed that Gadkari&rsquo;s position within national politics was one of the reasons behind such efforts.
"He is a strong contender for the post of Prime Minister. Therefore, defame him, defame him so much that people's perception of him gets damaged. All this is being done by people from his own party, and he also knows this," Raut alleged.
<h2>Kejriwal seeks reduction in petrol and diesel prices</h2>
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal demanded a reduction in fuel prices, stating that petrol and diesel rates should be lowered to provide relief to citizens.
"Pure petrol should be available in our country at Rs 82 per litre; and if we switch to E20 fuel, I believe the price should drop even further, to around Rs 70 per litre, compared to the Rs 102 currently charged for E20 petrol," Kejriwal said.
He claimed that a reduction in fuel prices could help control inflation and provide relief to people.
"We can calculate diesel prices in the same way; diesel prices could also be reduced. If petrol and diesel prices come down, I believe it would deal a significant blow to inflation and provide people with much-needed relief," Kejriwal said.
"On behalf of the people of this country, I demand that the government immediately start supplying pure petrol at Rs 82 per litre, and if E20 is to be supplied, the price should be even lower," he added.
<h2>Government defends ethanol blending programme</h2>
The remarks came after Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said a reduction in petrol and diesel prices could be considered if global crude oil prices remained stable at current levels for the coming weeks.
Puri also defended the government&rsquo;s ethanol blending programme and rejected <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/business/business-news/article/petroleum-ministry-reacts-to-ethanol-blending-criticism-says-upa-government-started-it-23639137" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">concerns related to E20 fuel</a>. He said the move towards higher ethanol blends was implemented after discussions with industry organisations and technical experts.
"The automobile manufacturers, as well as the people who service these vehicles, all say there is no difficulty. Why this sudden interest?" Puri said, calling the concerns around E20 fuel a "misrepresentation".
The government has maintained that E20 fuel was introduced after extensive testing and follows established quality standards under India&rsquo;s Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme.
<h2>Raut says Sharad Pawar remains MVA&rsquo;s senior leader</h2>
Responding to questions about <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/dont-legitimise-traitors-sanjay-raut-slams-sharad-pawar-for-meeting-eknath-shinde-23638978" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar</a>, Raut said he was not upset with him and described him as the senior leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
"We were not angry yesterday and we are not angry today either. Pawar Saheb is our supreme leader, he is the leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Yesterday, we only spoke about our feelings," Raut said.
Targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Raut said, "Eknath Shinde is the biggest traitor, we believe this."
"When Ajit Pawar broke away from Pawar Saheb's party, we felt the same amount of pain. People who commit betrayal should not be given any respect under any circumstances by political leaders like us," Raut said.
Raut added that giving importance to leaders who split parties could affect party workers.
"If this happens, tomorrow anyone will betray and then leaders like us will go to their homes and have tea with them. What will workers think then? I think about the feelings of workers. They do not like all this," he said.
(With inputs from ANI)

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