Gadkari lobbying for ethanol blending, alleges Congress

The Congress on Thursday (September 4, 2025) criticised Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for “aggressively lobbying” for ethanol blending policy, alleging that there is a clear conflict of interest as his two sons were main ethanol suppliers.

Addressing a press conference here, Congress’ Media and Publicity Department chairman Pawan Khera referred to Mr. Gadkari’s 2018 claims that ethanol mixing will help in bringing down the cost of diesel to ₹50 a litre and petrol to ₹55 per litre.

“Instead, the common man is left paying more — vehicles guzzle more fuel, break down sooner, and each litre of ethanol guzzles a staggering 3,000 litres of water,” Mr. Khera said, adding that petrol prices soared from ₹71.41 in 2014 to ₹94.77 a litre in 2025, and diesel from ₹55.49 to ₹87.67 a litre.

Elaborating on the allegations of conflict of interest, Mr. Khera said Cian Agro Industries Infrastructure Ltd, which is a key ethanol supplier, is owned by the Minister’s son, Nikhil Gadkari, while another son, Sarang Gadkari, is director at Manas Agro Industries, which is also engaged in ethanol production.

“Cian Agro’s revenue jumped from ₹18 crore (June 2024) to ₹523 crore (June 2025); its stock price surged 2,184 per cent from ₹37.45 (January 2025) to ₹638 (August 2025). While the common man’s wages have stagnated and declined, Cian Agro’s financial ascent is staggering,” Mr. Khera said.

Mr. Khera further pointed out that India achieved 20% ethanol blending before the 2025 deadline and said this is the first time in Indian history that any policy had achieved its target before the deadline.

‘Citizens worried’

“Is the E-20 ethanol push a public policy or a windfall for Gadkari’s sons and their companies? PM Modi vows ‘zero tolerance for corruption’, so will the Lokpal dare investigate the allegations against Gadkari and sons, before the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill [for removal of convicted Ministers] is passed?” Mr. Khera said.

“Citizens’ worries about engine life, mileage, and maintenance are dismissed by Mr. Gadkari, who blames a petroleum lobby, and calls ethanol a clean fuel,” he added.

BJP rejects charges

The BJP rejected the allegations, with national spokesperson Sambit Patra saying the Congress has become like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The AAP used to make claims about having documentary evidence of wrongdoing in its pocket but would have nothing in reality, Mr. Patra said, adding that the party would be seen more on TV and less on ground.

“Common man is left paying more — vehicles guzzle more fuel, break down sooner, and each litre of ethanol guzzles a staggering 3,000 litres of water”