How India’s Airlines Were Left to Bleed So Gadkari’s Boys Could Cash In
India’s biggest airlines have sent a desperate SOS to the government: the industry is under extreme stress and on the verge of simply stopping operations. air india, indigo, and SpiceJet aren’t whispering — they’re warning that without immediate relief on ATF prices, planes will be grounded and flights cancelled.
Now connect the dots.
On april 20, nitin gadkari publicly pushed hard for 100% ethanol blending at the Green Transport Conclave. Just two days later, on april 22, the government quietly amended the ATF rules, opening up aviation fuel as a shiny new market for ethanol. By april 28, the airlines were screaming that they’re staring at collapse.
Now connect the dots.
On april 20, nitin gadkari publicly pushed hard for 100% ethanol blending at the Green Transport Conclave. Just two days later, on april 22, the government quietly amended the ATF rules, opening up aviation fuel as a shiny new market for ethanol. By april 28, the airlines were screaming that they’re staring at collapse.
Here’s who stands to benefit handsomely from ethanol becoming part of jet fuel: Nitin Gadkari’s son Nikhil, Managing director of Cian Agro industries, a major ethanol producer. His other son, Sarang, director at Manas Agro industries, is also deep in ethanol.
Meanwhile, the same government that moved lightning-fast to create this new ethanol avenue has done precisely nothing about the one lever it fully controls — slashing the excise duty on ATF that is crushing the entire airline industry. airlines carrying crores of passengers are literally begging for relief. That file is gathering dust.
One policy that helps family-linked businesses is cleared in 48 hours.
The relief that could save thousands of jobs and an entire sector? Waiting indefinitely.
This isn’t about green fuel or energy security anymore. It’s about whose interests this government is actually flying for — the millions of ordinary indians who fly, or the handful of well-connected families who produce the fuel?
The question every air traveller in india deserves answered is brutally simple: Who is this government really working for?