Union Minister for Roads and Highways Nitin Gadkari has denied reports of him having any commercial interest in the e-rickshaw manufacturing sector.
"Nitin Gadkari has no commercial interests whatsoever with the e-rickshaw manufacturing sector nor has he got any link with the Purti Green Technologies Pvt. Ltd, which, according to reports in a section of the media, has shown interest in manufacturing battery-run rickshaws," a statement issued on behalf of Gadkari said.
"Battery- run e-rickshaws have been in operation in several parts of the country for so many years and these are being manufactured by a large number of companies in different states. More than two lakh e-rickshaws are already operating in Delhi NCR and other parts of the country," it added.
The release further said that the production of e-rickshaw is allowed only to manufacturers who have obtained a license from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
"It is up to the CSIR to grant license to e-rickshaw manufacturers and any firm interested in its production is free to apply for a license to the CSIR and start production," it said.
"Neither Gadkari nor any member of his family is associated with any e-rickshaw manufacturing firm," it added.