Nagpur, Sept. 29 -- union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today sought to downplay allegations linking him with irregularities in ethanol blending, asserting that the controversy was being fuelled by a "powerful import lobby" threatened by his initiatives.
Addressing a public programme in Nagpur, Gadkari refrained from giving a detailed rebuttal, saying he does not respond to "paid news." "The tree that bears fruit is the one that gets stoned. If I react, it only creates headlines," he remarked.
The minister explained that his policy push on ethanol aimed to reduce fossil fuel imports, provide farmers with new income opportunities by making them energy producers and bring down pollution levels.
He pointed out that ...