Will Kejriwal’s E20 Protest Make Any Difference?

Arvind Kejriwal has launched a fresh political battle against the Centre over E20 ethanol-blended petrol. He held a protest and submitted more than 2.33 lakh petitions, but the Centre has shown no signs of changing its policy.

On Tuesday, Delhi Police stopped Kejriwal and around 100 AAP workers while they were marching towards PM Narendra Modi’s residence. They wanted to submit the petitions demanding that the Centre withdraw E20 petrol or at least allow consumers to choose between regular petrol and E20 at fuel stations.

After being stopped, Kejriwal staged a brief protest before the petitions were handed over to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) through the police.

Kejriwal alleges that the Centre is forcing people to use E20 petrol. He claims the government itself admitted in Parliament that E20 can reduce vehicle mileage and may affect certain engine parts.

Kejriwal says consumers should have the freedom to choose the fuel they want. “We sought an appointment with Prime Minister Modi a month ago, but got no response. If mileage comes down and engine parts are affected, why should this fuel be forced on people?” Kejriwal asked.

AAP is also taking the issue beyond Delhi. After the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to review and suspend the mandatory E20 policy, the party plans to introduce similar resolutions in Gujarat, Goa and Jammu & Kashmir.

The issue has struck a chord with many vehicle owners who are worried about lower mileage, possible engine damage and higher maintenance costs, especially those using older vehicles.

However, turning these concerns into a nationwide movement may not be easy at present conditions.

BJP Rejects the Protest

The BJP has dismissed Kejriwal’s campaign as political drama. Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra accused the AAP chief of raising the issue to gain political mileage ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections. He also challenged Kejriwal to provide evidence that E20 has damaged vehicles.

The BJP maintains that ethanol-blended fuel is essential for India’s future as it reduces dependence on imported crude oil and strengthens the country’s energy security.

Unlike fuel price hikes, E20 is a long-term policy backed by the Centre, automobile manufacturers, ethanol producers and the sugar industry. The government considers ethanol blending a key part of its energy transition strategy.

Unless strong scientific evidence emerges showing widespread engine damage or major financial losses for consumers, the Centre is unlikely to change its stand. For now, the Union government’s message is clear: E20 petrol is here to stay.