'Will pure petrol come from your father's house?': BJP MP on ethanol policy

Rewa (MP): BJP MP Janardan Mishra on Sunday defended the Centre's ethanol blending policy amid the ongoing debate over the use of ethanol in petrol, asking critics, "Will pure petrol come from your father's house?"

Mishra made the remarks while addressing an event held to inaugurate new flight services connecting Rewa with Bhopal and Kolkata.

The Rewa MP said India produces only about 20 per cent of its crude oil requirements and depends on imports for the remaining 80 per cent.

Referring to the prevailing geopolitical situation, Mishra claimed that ships supplying crude oil to India have to travel an additional distance of around 18,000 km.

"In such a situation, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about blending 20 per cent ethanol in petrol, some people start protesting."

He said an agitation was being carried out against ethanol blending, with its opponents arguing that vehicles should use only pure petrol.

"A movement is underway claiming that ethanol won't work, pure petrol will. Will pure petrol come from your father's house? If there's no pure petrol in the country, where will it come from?" he said.

Mishra said vehicles in India are capable of operating with ethanol-blended fuel, but some people continue to oppose its use.

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"If ethanol is not produced, where will petrol come from, where will diesel come from?"

Defending the policy further, Mishra cited Brazil as an example, claiming that vehicles there can run on 100 per cent ethanol without facing problems.

Brazil is the world's largest ethanol producer and this has enabled vehicles in the country to run entirely on the fuel, he said.

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Mishra, who has frequently drawn attention for controversial remarks, also said experts in India believe ethanol does not damage vehicle engines and alleged that the opposition to ethanol blending was "unnecessary".

He further claimed that India currently has the lowest inflation and the highest employment in the world.