Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Kishan Reddy Counters Gandhi, Kejriwal on Ethanol Blending Program
Two leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, said some things about a fuel program that the government did not like.
This program mixes a little bit of alcohol made from plants, called ethanol, into petrol for cars.
The minister in charge, Kishan Reddy, said their words were not true.
He showed old government papers from Congress's own time in charge.
Those papers show Congress started the idea of mixing ethanol back in 2012 and 2013.
Back then, India could not make enough ethanol, so Congress bought some from other countries.
Today, India makes much more ethanol than before.
Since 2019, it is not allowed to import ethanol for fuel at all.
So Mr. Reddy says every drop of ethanol now comes from Indian farmers.
Union coal and mines minister G. Kishan Reddy accused Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal of spreading false claims about the ethanol blending programme.
Reddy cited UPA-era Gazette notifications showing the Congress-led government mandated 5% ethanol blending by June 30, 2013, and 10% blending in January 2013.
He said the Congress government floated a global tender for 82.03 crore litres after domestic supply collapsed to 39.8 crore litres against a 140.4 crore litre requirement.
Ethanol procurement rose from 38 crore litres in 2013-14 to 707 crore litres in 2023-24, with producers offering 1,776 crore litres in the current supply year.
Ethanol import for fuel purposes has been prohibited since May 2019, and all blending fuel is sourced domestically.
- Who
- Union coal and mines minister G. Kishan Reddy, responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
- What
- Reddy rebutted criticism of the ethanol blending programme by releasing a chronology of UPA-era Gazette notifications and accusing Gandhi and Kejriwal of false claims.
- When
- The remarks were made on a Tuesday; the cited notifications date to November 22, 2012, and January 2, 2013.
- Where
- India; the minister made his remarks in a series of tweets.
- Why
- To counter criticism of the ethanol blending programme and defend the government's record, while highlighting the Congress-led government's own history with ethanol policy and imports.
Critics (Congress & AAP)
BJP-led Government
Ethanol blending programme credibility
Critics (Congress & AAP)
Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal criticised the ethanol blending programme, with Kejriwal making claims about ethanol imports.
BJP-led Government
Kishan Reddy said Gandhi was 'lying to the country' and Kejriwal was spreading 'fake claims,' citing UPA-era notifications that show Congress itself mandated ethanol blending.
Ethanol imports
Critics (Congress & AAP)
The opposition has raised claims about ethanol imports under the blending programme.
BJP-led Government
Reddy said ethanol imports for fuel purposes have been prohibited since May 2019 and every litre used for blending is sourced domestically.
Domestic supply capacity
Critics (Congress & AAP)
Under the Congress government, India could not produce enough ethanol and had to go to the global market.
BJP-led Government
Reddy highlighted that Indian producers now offer 1,776 crore litres against a requirement of about 1,050 crore litres, showing the programme has built domestic capacity.
- Union minister
- Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy
- Targets of rebuttal
- Rahul Gandhi (Congress) and Arvind Kejriwal (former Delhi CM)
- Key document cited
- Gazette Notification of January 2, 2013 (10% ethanol blending)
- First mandate
- CCEA mandated 5% ethanol blending by June 30, 2013 (November 22, 2012)
- 2013 shortfall
- 39.8 crore litres supplied against a 140.4 crore litre requirement
- Congress-era global tender
- 82.03 crore litres
- Procurement growth
- 38 crore litres (2013-14) to 707 crore litres (2023-24)
- Import status
- Ethanol import for fuel purposes prohibited since May 2019