Indian politics, it is rare to find a leader who speaks less and delivers more. Nitin Gadkari belongs to that rare category. For over a decade, he has transformed the very idea of infrastructure in India — building highways at a record-breaking pace, cutting logistics costs, introducing alternative fuels like ethanol, and giving farmers a new market for their produce. Yet, instead of appreciation, he often finds himself at the receiving end of baseless attacks, fake allegations, and politically motivated smear campaigns.
The story of Nitin Gadkari’s targeting reveals a deeper malaise in our system: those who perform and disturb vested interests are often brought under fire, while those who do nothing escape criticism.
The Ethanol and E20 Campaign of Lies
One of Gadkari’s most significant contributions has been his push for ethanol-blended fuel, especially E20 (20% ethanol, 80% petrol). This policy is a game-changer. It reduces India’s dependence on crude oil imports, saves billions in foreign exchange, provides an assured market for farmers (particularly sugarcane growers), and cuts vehicular emissions.
Instead of celebrating this bold step, a malicious campaign was launched against him and his family. Media headlines and opposition leaders began accusing Gadkari’s sons of “controlling” the ethanol industry. The truth, however, is completely different.
According to verified data, Gadkari’s family businesses have less than 0.6% share in India’s ethanol sector. They don’t even figure in the top 20 producers. Comparing their role to “controlling” the market is like saying a small kirana shop runs India’s FMCG industry. The narrative was not only exaggerated — it was deliberately manufactured to tarnish his image.
Who benefits from such propaganda? The answer is clear: oil lobbies, middlemen, and corrupt networks that do not want India to become energy independent. Ethanol blending directly reduces India’s oil imports. Every litre of ethanol used means less money going abroad to oil-exporting nations. That naturally upsets powerful players, both domestic and international, who profit from India’s fuel dependence.
By attacking Gadkari, they aim to weaken the ethanol mission, discourage farmers, and keep India tied to expensive imported crude.
The Highway Misconception: Blaming Him for Roads He Never Built
Another favourite line of attack against Nitin Gadkari is on “bad roads.” Every time a pothole video goes viral from some district, every time a tragic accident happens on a state highway or municipal road, a section of media and social media users immediately point fingers at his ministry.
But here’s the reality: Nitin Gadkari’s ministry controls national highways, not state highways or municipal/local roads.
And in national highways, the transformation under him has been historic. India is now constructing more than 12,000 kilometres of highways annually, making it one of the fastest-growing highway networks in the world. Projects like the Delhi–Meerut Expressway (which reduced travel time from 4 hours to 45 minutes), the Mumbai–Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg (cutting travel from 17 hours to 7 hours), and the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway are examples of his vision.
Logistics costs, once at 16%, have fallen closer to 10%. Highways today match global standards. Even international agencies have praised India’s pace of road construction.
Yet, when a municipal road in Bihar or a rural road in Madhya Pradesh breaks down due to corruption or poor state governance, Gadkari is unfairly blamed. It’s a distortion of facts that ordinary Indians often don’t know about.
Why Is Gadkari Targeted?
The answer lies in the enemies he has made by doing his job too well.
- Oil Lobby – Ethanol blending reduces imports, cutting into the profits of global oil giants and their domestic partners.
- Corrupt Contractors – Gadkari’s transparent highway tenders and hybrid annuity models have destroyed the old nexus of inflated contracts and bribes.
- Lazy Politicians – His ability to deliver within deadlines makes others look bad. When Gadkari announces a project, people know it will be completed. That threatens the narrative of those who thrive only on promises.
- Media Ecosystem – Negative news sells. Highlighting potholes or spinning stories about “conflict of interest” generates clicks, even if it’s misleading.
The very qualities that make Gadkari one of India’s most efficient ministers are the reasons he is attacked. He disturbs the status quo.
His Record Speaks Louder Than Propaganda
Instead of falling for smear campaigns, Indians should look at what Gadkari has achieved.
- World-Class Highways: India is now second only to China in terms of highway construction. Expressways across states have reduced travel time, improved logistics, and boosted the economy.
- Ethanol Revolution: Farmers now have an assured buyer for their crops. India’s forex savings run into billions, and environmental benefits are massive.
- Innovative Financing: Gadkari brought in public-private partnerships, hybrid annuity models, and innovative bonds to ensure road projects don’t get stuck due to lack of funds.
- Visionary Targets: He has openly declared that by 2030, India will have road infrastructure matching American standards, and judging by his track record, people believe him.
- Green Push: From promoting electric vehicles to pushing hydrogen and biofuel, Gadkari has consistently thought ahead of time.
When ordinary people drive on new highways or when farmers receive better prices because of ethanol demand, they understand Gadkari’s contribution.
The Tragedy of Indian Politics
The tragedy is not that Gadkari is attacked. The tragedy is that so many Indians believe the lies. We live in a time where rumours spread faster than facts. A small market share is twisted into a “monopoly.” Local potholes are portrayed as “national failure.” The minister who delivered the most is painted as the one who failed.
This reflects a deeper problem with our national psyche: we often do not value performers. We are quick to criticise, slow to acknowledge. We punish success with suspicion and reward mediocrity with silence.
Why Defending Gadkari Is Defending India’s Progress
Standing by Nitin Gadkari is not about supporting one politician. It’s about supporting a model of governance that delivers. It’s about rejecting propaganda spread by powerful lobbies. It’s about recognising that India’s journey to becoming a developed nation will face resistance from both internal vested interests and external forces.
If leaders like Gadkari, who work 18-hour days, push projects, innovate policies, and deliver results, are constantly pulled down, then India’s progress will slow down. And that is exactly what the lobbies want.
Conclusion
Nitin Gadkari is not perfect, but he is easily among the most effective ministers India has seen in decades. His ethanol policy is visionary, his highways are transformative, and his work ethic is unmatched. Yet he is being wrongly targeted by lobbies who cannot tolerate India’s march toward energy independence and transparent governance.
History will not remember the noise of propaganda. It will remember the expressways that cut travel time, the ethanol that saved billions, the farmers who earned more, and the vision that pushed India forward.
For now, Indians must learn to distinguish between fact and propaganda. Because attacking Gadkari is not just an attack on one man — it is an attack on India’s progress. And that is something we cannot afford.