Increasing exports new way ahead for patriotism: Gadkari

Panaji: Increasing exports and reducing imports is the new way ahead for patriotism and "swadeshi", and it will be a ‘new freedom’ for India when not a drop of petrol or diesel is imported, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday.

Addressing the 'Sagar Manthan 2.0' event organised by weekly magazine 'Panchjanya', the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways also said stopping the import of petrol and diesel was linked to arresting terrorism in the world. "Till this import is not stopped, terrorism will not stop across the world. The aim of my life is to stop import of petrol and diesel.

I consider it to be a new freedom for India when not a drop of petrol and diesel is imported into the country," he said. "The import bill for petrol and diesel stands at Rs 16 lakh crore now. If we reduce this import, the money we save will go to the poor. That is why we have introduced alternative fuels like bio fuel. Reduction in imports and increase in exports is the way forward for patriotism and swadeshi," he asserted.