New Delhi: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday accused Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari of nepotism, saying government’s policies are helping his “family business”.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Digvijaya Singh said Gadkari has always been embroiled in controversies regarding the Purti business group he founded.
“There is a clear cut case of conflict of interests in this case where Nitin Gadkari as a minister clearly took undue interest in blending of ethanol into petroleum to 22.5 per cent as against 10 per cent.
“Although he was not in charge of the ministry which deals with blending, he issued a statement in Nagpur of a cabinet note on increasing the percentage of ethanol from 10 per cent to 22.5 per cent. Cabinet note is a secret document. As the minister he also violated the oath of secrecy which he had taken,” Digvijaya Singh wrote.
Nitin Gadkari’s son Nikhil Gadkari is listed as a Director of Purti Power and Sugar Ltd, Digvijaya Singh said.
“Sensing the decision of the government of India to increase the blending percentage, Purti decided to treble its production from 45 kilo litres per day to 135 kilo litres per day,” the Congress leader wrote.
—-IANS