Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday demanded that the Centre allow consumers to choose between E20 fuel and pure petrol at fuel stations and announced a march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on August 3 to submit public petitions against the ethanol-blended fuel policy.
Addressing a town hall-style meeting on E20 fuel at the Constitution Club of India, Kejriwal said he would collect petitions from citizens at noon on Monday before leading a march with around 100 people to Lok Kalyan Marg, the Prime Minister's official residence.
The former Delhi chief minister urged the government to provide motorists with a choice between E20 and conventional petrol instead of making ethanol-blended fuel the default option. He also demanded that the Centre reduce the price of E20 petrol and lower overall petrol prices.
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Questioning the government's claims about the safety of ethanol-blended fuel, Kejriwal called on the Centre to make public the study it has relied upon to assert that E20 does not damage vehicle engines.
"The Centre says studies have been conducted and E20 does not harm vehicles. I want them to share that report," he said.
The meeting was attended by people from different states, many of whom shared their experiences and concerns regarding the use of E20 fuel. Several participants alleged that the blended fuel had affected vehicle performance and fuel efficiency, though the government has consistently maintained that E20 is safe for compatible vehicles and is a key component of India's strategy to reduce crude oil imports and lower emissions.
The announcement comes amid an intensifying debate over the Centre's E20 policy, with the government defending the programme as an energy security measure while critics continue to seek greater transparency, lower prices and the option to purchase conventional petrol.
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