Gadkari Says Ethanol Is A Small Part Of Sons’ Business, Rejects Conflict Charges: ‘Politically Motivated’

Last Updated:July 15, 2026, 07:23 IST

Responding to criticism of E20 fuel- petrol blended with 20% ethanol- Nitin Gadkari said social media claims about engine damage lack evidence.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari dismissed allegations that he personally or financially benefited from the government’s ethanol blending programme, asserting that the campaign against him is “politically motivated" and driven by misinformation.

In an interview with The Times of India, Nitin Gadkari said the sugar and ethanol businesses run by his sons have only a marginal presence in the sector and that he has no role in their operations, pricing decisions or procurement processes.

“Ethanol is just 10% of the business and the factories run by my sons have less than 0.5% share of the ethanol business in the country," Nitin Gadkari said. He added that the companies carry debt of around Rs 1,600 crore, arguing that claims of personal gain from the ethanol programme are unfounded.

The minister said the ethanol blending initiative predates his tenure and has enjoyed bipartisan support over the years. According to Nitin Gadkari, the programme began under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government and was continued by the UPA government, with then petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar backing it in Parliament.

Nitin Gadkari said his support for ethanol is part of a broader push for alternative fuels aimed at reducing vehicular pollution and cutting India’s dependence on imported crude oil. He noted that he has consistently advocated not only sugarcane-based ethanol but also ethanol produced from maize, rice, crop stubble and bamboo, alongside other alternatives such as methanol, hydrogen and electric vehicles.

Responding to criticism of E20 fuel- petrol blended with 20% ethanol- Nitin Gadkari said social media claims about engine damage lack evidence. He maintained that all E10-compliant vehicles can safely use E20 fuel and pointed to public statements by automobile manufacturer Maruti Suzuki that found no issues linked to the fuel.

“There have been no complaints so far about the fuel damaging engines," he said, adding that he had recently invited people facing problems to write to his ministry but had received no complaints.

The minister acknowledged that ethanol-blended fuel may lead to a slight reduction in fuel efficiency, particularly at higher speeds on highways, because ethanol has a lower calorific value than petrol. However, he said the impact is limited and not significant in typical urban driving conditions.

On demands for the continued availability of lower ethanol blends such as E10, Nitin Gadkari said India has already achieved 20% blending and E20 fuel is now available across the country. Consumers who prefer pure petrol can still purchase it, he said, but at a higher price.

Defending the government’s biofuel strategy, Nitin Gadkari cited countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand, which have expanded ethanol and biofuel use. He argued that the transition offers environmental benefits while also supporting farmers and reducing the country’s oil import bill.

“There is a concerted effort to target me and the government," Nitin Gadkari said, while insisting that his advocacy of alternative fuels is guided by public policy objectives rather than private interests.

News india Gadkari Says Ethanol Is A Small Part Of Sons’ Business, Rejects Conflict Charges: ‘Politically Motivated’

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