India, Aug. 8 -- Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said there was no merit in the argument that mixing 20 ethanol in petrol (called E20) reduces mileage of vehicles. "This is not even a discussion. I don't know if I should say this, politically - it appears the petroleum lobby is manipulating it," he said in reply to a pointed question about social media chatter on E20 petrol's effect on mileage.

"You show me one vehicle anywhere in the world which had problems because of E20 petrol!" he said, during an interview at a summit by Business Today, adding, "I give an open challenge. There is absolutely no problem with E20."

This comes in the same week when the petroleum ministry also said the no major engine damage or performan...