Don't cut income of farmers supplying ethanol; Congress created ethanol controversy to divert attention: Karnataka LoP R Ashoka

Speaking at a press conference, Ashoka said misinformation is being spread about blending ethanol with petrol.

"A non-existent problem in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and elsewhere has been created here," he said.

Slamming the government over drought relief, he said, "The government is unable to even give Rs 5,000 drought relief to farmers. It first announced Rs 2,500 and then gave only Rs 1,500 in Yadgir. Revenue Minister justified it, saying it happened by mistake. Such errors continue even when IAS officers are present. Recently, an IAS officer in Hassan posted on social media that "if the lion sleeps, dogs will bark. Such officers have lost the competence to provide relief."

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving Rs 6,000 directly to bank accounts of farmers across the country under the Kisan Samman scheme, but in the state there is no system to deliver relief directly.

"Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has said per capita income has increased, but has not disclosed how much debt has been incurred per person. All these issues have been diverted by raising ethanol matter," he alleged.

Ashoka said vehicle manufacturing companies have not complained that their engines are getting damaged, nor have people gone to court.

"Only Congress is complaining. Only Minister Rizwan Arshad and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were raising complaints. Belagavi Congress leaders had demanded that ethanol be purchased. Now Bengaluru Congress leaders are saying ethanol is not needed. More than 80 countries are blending ethanol," he said.

"When I was Transport Minister, I appealed to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding ethanol use, but he did not give permission. At that time, the petroleum lobby was active. Countries like America, Brazil and Vietnam are using ethanol to help farmers," he said.

He said from 2014-15 till May 2026, ethanol blending has resulted in more than Rs 1.90 lakh crore foreign exchange savings. "Consumption of more than 310 lakh tonnes of crude oil has reduced, and about 930 lakh metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions have reduced. Farmers have received more than Rs 1.60 lakh crore in additional income," he said.

Ashoka said vehicle mileage has reduced more due to potholes than ethanol. "BMTC buses that used to run at 18 km per hour have now dropped to 11 km per hour," he added.

"Out of 63 samples, only 11 samples were shown. Test results of the remaining samples should also have been shown. Were samples collected from Congress-owned petrol bunks? Which bunks? That has not been disclosed," he asked.

He said the Central Government has given guidelines on where and how testing should be done. "Ignoring that, testing has been done somewhere else. As per Section 8/2 of the law brought by the UPA in 2005, six samples should be collected and given to the company and the owner. Information should be given to the owner within five days. The government has not followed any such process," he said.

"Congress leaders who go to the Central Government for everything should have met Central ministers and held discussions on ethanol as well. This should be tested impartially and information given to people, rather than creating panic," he said.

"If petrol is Rs 53 per litre, ethanol is priced at Rs 56.70. Because the rate is higher, companies do not make excessive profits. From ethanol alone, Congress government received Rs 10,308 crore in income in 2025-26. While the Central Government gets Rs 12 per litre from petrol, the state government gets Rs 24-25. That means Congress, which receives higher revenue, is now making accusations. Raids were conducted on 805 petrol bunks. But weighing and measuring is the responsibility of the state government. Therefore, this is entirely the state government's responsibility. Then they should have disclosed how many people action has been taken against," he said.

He demanded an inquiry and said the government should discuss with the Central Government instead of playing low-level politics.

"Rice is being stolen from fair price shops and going abroad. Instead of detecting that, the government is cutting into farmers' homes. Drought relief is not being given to farmers. Rs 5,000 crore is not being given to housewives," he alleged.

On Metro share, Ashoka said it has been said the state's share is 84%. "But in reality, Central and state governments each have a 20% share. The rest is taken as a loan. Central Government gives a guarantee for that. The state government has not repaid the Metro loan. If everything is ours, then why is the Central Government blamed only when ticket fares are increased? If 84% is ours, show where it is in the budget. Do not weave a false story about the crow and sparrow," he said.

"If our share is higher, invite Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi instead of the Prime Minister for inauguration. When the Prime Minister comes, protocol and security are followed. Only for that reason Chief Minister was invited. CM DK Shivakumar proudly says the Prime Minister calls him 'DK'," he said.

On SIR, Ashoka said as per SIR, the number of people who have shifted is 65 lakh, and those who did not apply and are missing are 19 lakh.

"This means Bangladeshis are there. Just as ethanol is mixed with petrol, Bangladeshis have mixed with Congress party. 300 Bangladeshis were sent by police on planes, spending Rs 65 lakh. Five Pakistanis were arrested in Anekal. There are 3 crore Bangladeshi and Pakistan citizens in the country," he claimed.

He said SIR has been conducted for the ninth time, and when it was conducted seven times, UPA was in power.

"Sonia Gandhi should have obtained citizenship as soon as she got married and came to India. But after 15 years, her name was added to the voter list. What qualification do those who delayed so much in becoming citizens and Congress people have to talk about SIR," he questioned. (ANI)