'I know how to earn ₹200 cr per month' says Gadkari amid ethanol row

Amid the ethanol controversy, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari said that his brain has the capacity to earn ₹200 crore every month, but he would never stoop to that level for monetary gain. 

Speaking at an event in Nagpur, Gadkari said, "You think I am doing this for money? I know how to earn with honesty, I am not a wheel-dealer."

Gadkari said that politicians often exploit divisions for their own benefit. He warned that backwardness has become a political interest. Gadkari added, “I also have a family and a home. I am not a saint, I am a politician. But I have always believed that the nearly 10,000 farmer suicides in Vidarbha are deeply shameful. Our efforts will continue until farmers prosper.”

His remarks came after the Supreme Court on September 1 dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought mandatory availability of ethanol-free petrol at all fuel stations. The Centre had opposed the petition, calling it an attempt to undermine national policy. India had implemented 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20) nationwide in April 2023, achieving its blending target five years ahead of schedule.