Import Lobbies Rattled
Nagpur
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday dismissed allegations linking him to benefits from ethanol blending policies, calling them the work of a “powerful import lobby” unhappy with his decisions. Speaking at an event here, Gadkari said such criticisms are inevitable in politics but insisted they would not distract him from his mission.
Gadkari described himself as a “tree that bears fruit” and said those who make progress attract opposition. “I don’t respond to such criticisms because then it becomes news,” he said. He stressed that his policy focus is to promote ethanol blending, make farmers energy producers, and cut pollution, which he claimed had directly impacted vested interests in fossil fuel imports.
“About ₹22 lakh crore went out of the country for fuel imports. Their businesses suffered, and they started paid news against me,” Gadkari said, adding that he has never taken a single penny from contractors, which he believes makes him a target.
The remarks came amid controversy over CIAN Agro Industries, run by Gadkari’s son, Nikhil Gadkari. The company’s revenues rose sharply from ₹17.47 crore in Q1 FY24 to ₹510.8 crore in Q1 FY26, with profits increasing to over ₹52 crore. Its share price surged to ₹2,023 from ₹172 in a year. Analysts attribute the growth to ethanol sales, other income, and new business ventures, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Gadkari insisted such controversies are common in politics and vowed to continue focusing on policy work rather than controversies, saying, “People know what the truth is. I have gone through such things many times before.”