Arvind Kejriwal announces protest March to PM’s residence over E20 fuel policy
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party national coordinator Arvind Kejriwal announced on Saturday that he will spearhead a protest march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence on August 4, intensifying his political campaign against the administration's E20 fuel initiative.
Addressing a public town hall session near the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Kejriwal stated he would be accompanied by a hundred-strong delegation of supporters "not afraid of police batons" to deliver a petition bearing the signatures of over 200,000 residents.
"Earlier, I asked you to sign a petition addressed to the Prime Minister. More than 2,00,000 people have signed it online, and I have taken printouts of those signatures. On Tuesday, the 4th, at 12:00 PM, I will personally go to the Prime Minister's residence to hand over the petition," Kejriwal told the gathering.
Kejriwal added that large-scale attendance was unnecessary, noting that participation would be restricted to individuals prepared for police intervention.
"There is no need for everyone to come along. I will take 100 people with me who are not afraid of police batons. I will take 100 people with me who are not afraid of going to jail. Those who wish to join should write to me, tag me and send me a message. We will take 100 people with us, march toward the Prime Minister's residence, and then see what happens," he remarked.
This planned procession marks the newest escalation in the AAP's offensive against the central government's E20 petrol policy. During the event, Kejriwal outlined three primary demands directed at the Centre: fuel stations must offer consumers a choice between E20 and unblended petrol; E20 must be retailed at a lower price point than pure petrol; and the overall cost of petrol should fall below 84 rupees per litre.
He additionally advised citizens to suspend vehicle purchases until domestic manufacturers produce engines capable of running on E100.
"I appeal to the people of my country to stop buying petrol and diesel vehicles. Until E100 vehicles start being manufactured in the country, do not buy a vehicle. This government will ruin you," he wrote via X earlier in the day.
Earlier on Saturday, he challenged the conflicting positions taken by various union ministries concerning ethanol-blended fuel, asserting that adequate scientific research has been omitted and that the E20 strategy is being imposed upon the public against their will.
"On one side they say E20 is good, on the other side they say E20 is bad. One ministry says there is a difference of 2 per cent to 5 per cent, while another ministry says 4 per cent. They haven't conducted any study; they are just forcing the policy onto the people... Vehicles are getting damaged and mileage is dropping. Why is the Government forcing this on people? What is the interest of Govt in this? E20 petrol is not good," Kejriwal told reporters.
Conversely, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas dismissed what it labelled as "misleading claims" regarding ethanol-blended petrol (E20) on Thursday, maintaining that there is "no verified evidence of widespread engine damage" tied to the fuel following over two decades of technical assessments and practical application across crores of vehicles.
Responding to anxieties aired across digital platforms, the ministry clarified that its findings derive from more than 25 years of phased rollout, ongoing field monitoring, and rigorous dialogue with industry stakeholders. The Central Government stated that E15-plus fuel has been utilised for upwards of three and a half years, whilst E19-E20 blends have circulated for more than two and a half years, powering over 20 crore two-wheelers and in excess of 3 crore petrol-driven automobiles successfully without substantiated systemic breakdowns.
ANI