Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led a march toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence this week to protest E20 petrol blends.
The demonstration highlights a growing political conflict over India's fuel policies and the economic impact of ethanol blending on vehicle owners. The AAP is demanding that the government provide citizens with a choice between the E20 blend and pure petrol.
About 100 people [1] participated in the march toward the official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. The group carried 233,238 petitions [3] opposing the current fuel policy. Delhi police stopped the procession before the group could reach the Prime Minister's gate.
Reports on the exact timing of the event vary, with some sources citing the march as scheduled for Aug. 3 [3] and others noting it occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 4 [1].
Kejriwal addressed the police and the government during the standoff. "We are not terrorists, we want to meet PM Modi over the E20 fuel issue, kindly inform him that we want to meet," Kejriwal said.
Beyond the domestic impact on engines, some AAP leaders alleged that the policy was influenced by external factors. Certain reports indicate the party is protesting alleged pressure from the U.S. to adopt the blend [2].
Saurabh Bhardwaj, an AAP leader, emphasized the goal of the demonstration. "We have come with petitions and want a discussion on ethanol," Bhardwaj said.
The protest specifically targets the adoption of E20, which is a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. The AAP argues that this blend may not be suitable for all vehicles, and that the government should stop buying ethanol from the U.S. [3].
“"We are not terrorists, we want to meet PM Modi over the E20 fuel issue."”
The protest reflects a strategic attempt by the AAP to link environmental and energy policy to consumer rights and national sovereignty. By framing the E20 blend as a result of foreign pressure and a burden on vehicle owners, the party is challenging the central government's transition toward biofuels on both economic and political grounds.
