New Delhi, Sept. 11 -- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that the recent criticism on social media over the government's ethanol blending programme was a "paid campaign" against him and not based on facts, adding that the Supreme Court had already dismissed petitions challenging the move.

Speaking at the 65th SIAM Annual Convention, Gadkari said, "The social media campaign was a paid campaign against me. The Supreme Court has also dismissed the petition. There was no fact."

The Minister has been at the centre of a debate in recent weeks after vehicle owners and service centres raised concerns that higher ethanol blends could reduce mileage and damage engines in older vehicles.

Rejecting these...