'Show one damaged vehicle': Gadkari's dare on ethanol blending, targets vested interests

NEW DELHI: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday talked about the Centre's ethanol-blending programme, rejecting claims that mixing ethanol with petrol damages vehicles and arguing that the policy has also opened a new avenue for farmers to diversify beyond food production.Speaking at the inaugural session of the Bihar Investor Summit 2026, Gadkari said millions of vehicles had already been operating on ethanol-blended petrol since 2022 without, in his account, widespread complaints of damage."I challenge anybody to come up with the complaint that his or her vehicle has suffered damage on this account. Of course, those with vested interests may have some other story to tell," said Gadkari, who holds portfolios of Road Transport and Highways, as quoted by PTI.Gadkari said the policy was designed not merely to reduce dependence on conventional fuel but also to create an additional market for agricultural produce.