‘New freedom when petrol, diesel imports stop’: Gadkari pushes for alternative fuel

He also recalled a conversation he had with former RSS sarsanghchalak K S Sudarshan. “He asked me why we have this problem of terrorism? He said the solution to this problem was linked to the import of petrol, diesel and fossil fuels. Jis din ye import band nahi hoga, vishwa mein aatankvad samapt nahi hoga (Till the day this import does not stop, terrorism will not end in the world),” Gadkari said.

The Union minister called for the use of alternative fuel, and pointed out that farmers were making ethanol from sugarcane juice, molasses, bamboo, food grains and rice straw.

“I have a car that runs on ethanol. I keep promoting the use of bio fuel and alternate fuel. Mera toh maksat hi hai life ka ye petrol-diesel walon ka band baaja hi bajana hai (My mission in life is to take these petrol-diesel people to task). The day that even a single drop of these fuels stops coming to India, a new freedom will be achieved,” he said.

Gadkari said the government was working to reduce the cost of hydrogen, and in future, cars, trucks and buses would run on hydrogen.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also spoke at the event, where he sought to allay fears that Dabolim airport in Goa may shut after the Manohar International Airport in Mopa becomes operational. “I want to reiterate that Dabolim airport will never shut for the public,” Sawant said.

The CM also expressed confidence that the BJP would win both Lok Sabha seats from Goa in the 2024 elections.