He was addressing an election rally in support of BJP leader Giriraj Singh in Begusarai
Hailing hydrogen as the "fuel of the future", Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday asserted that vehicles in the country would run on green fuels in the coming years.
Addressing an election rally in support of BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh in Begusarai, Mr Gadkari said, "India imports fossil fuel every year... soon, our farmers will produce green fuels." "Hydrogen is the fuel of the future and vehicles in the country will run on green fuels in the coming years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for the overall development of the country as well as for the welfare of the farmers," he said.
"Increased demand for ethanol will change the agro-economy of the country... this will make farmers 'urjadata' (providers of energy)... they will no longer remain 'annadata' (providers of food)," he said.
Mr Gadkari asserted that ethanol industry is a boon for the farmers and demand for it will increase which will change the agro-economy of the country.
"I want motorcycles, e-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and cars to be 100 per cent ethanol-based in the next few years," Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, said.
The coming years will create job opportunities in the agriculture sector, which will benefit farmers of Bihar as well, he said.
"PM Modi's dream is to make India a USD 5 trillion economy, and for that, the country needs infrastructure development... without water, power, transport and communication, the country's overall growth is not possible. The NDA government is working for speedy development of the country as well as Bihar. I am confident that our alliance will win all 40 seats in the state," he asserted.
"People will find good quality national highways anywhere they go in the country, including Bihar. Our country is changing... It is our PM's dream to make India a self-reliant nation that takes care of its poor and needy citizens," he said.
Union minister Giriraj Singh is seeking re-election from Begusarai Lok Sabha seat as the NDA nominee. Singh is pitted against CPI candidate Awadhesh Rai, who is the Mahagathbandhan's nominee.
Elections will be held in Begusarai, Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Samastipur, Begusarai and Munger Lok Sabha seats of Bihar in the fourth phase on May 13.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)