Paid campaign against me: Nitin Gadkari on E20 petrol furore online

Amid strong opposition to the government’s deployment of ethanol-blended petrol, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday that he was the target of a “paid political campaign” on social media.

Gadkari claimed worries over E20 petrol, which mixes 20% ethanol with regular fuel, were being overblown online while speaking at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers’ (SIAM) 65th annual convention in Delhi. He said that both automakers and authorities support the fuel’s safety.

“ARAI and the Supreme Court have given clarity on the E20 programme. There was a campaign on social media to target me politically. It was a paid campaign, so don’t pay attention to it,” he said.

In recent weeks, the Minister has been subject to increasing social media criticism for requiring the sale of E20 gasoline and blending ethanol. According to car owners, the fuel damages older vehicles that aren’t designed for higher ethanol blends and lowers mpg. Owners of models prior to 2023 have also complained, according to industry experts and certain service garages.

However, Gadkari has continuously praised its advantages and effectiveness. He had challenged critics to “show a single instance” of an automobile being damaged by E20 at the Business Today India@100 Summit last month, claiming that neither SIAM nor the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) had reported any confirmed cases of damage.

A significant legal obstacle to the government’s clean-energy agenda was removed earlier this month when the Supreme Court upheld that position by rejecting a petition that attempted to stop the rollout of E20 and require ethanol-free gasoline at pumps. Additionally, automakers and fuel suppliers have stated that warranties are still in effect for cars built on E20.

According to the government, combining ethanol will increase farmer earnings, decrease pollution, and cut down on oil imports. Gadkari restated the assertion that farmers would have new sources of income.

“We took the decision to produce ethanol from maize. As a result, maize cultivation in UP, Bihar, and across the country has tripled,” he said. “India’s agricultural growth rate has traditionally been low. This diversification of agriculture into the energy and power sector directly benefits farmers and strengthens the economy, there is nothing wrong with it.”

Gadkari used the industry gathering to make a fresh policy pitch, urging incentives to encourage cleaner vehicle adoption.

“I have requested the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to give GST benefit to consumers who buy new vehicles post scrapping their old vehicles at a verified scrapping centre,” he said.