‘Will You Compensate Vehicle Owners?’ Arvind Kejriwal Demands Immediate Rollback Of E20 Petrol Policy, Targets Centre
Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday intensified his attack on the Centre over the nationwide rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20), demanding that the policy be withdrawn immediately. Claiming that motorists across the country are facing lower fuel efficiency and rising maintenance costs, Kejriwal questioned why the fuel was made mandatory if doubts over its long-term impact still exist.
Addressing the issue through a video message, the AAP chief alleged that the government had sent conflicting signals over the E20 programme. He claimed that while the Centre initially indicated before the Supreme Court that the policy was still under evaluation, it later denied making any such submission after the matter gained public attention.
Kejriwal argued that any scientific experiment should first be conducted on a limited number of vehicles before being implemented across the country. According to him, introducing E20 fuel nationwide while calling it an evolving exercise raises serious questions about the decision-making process.
He also alleged that many vehicle owners have complained of reduced mileage, engine-related issues and higher repair costs after switching to ethanol-blended petrol. Raising a direct question to the government, Kejriwal asked whether consumers would be compensated if their vehicles suffered damage because of the new fuel.
The AAP leader further claimed that if fuel efficiency falls significantly, consumers should not be forced to pay the same price for petrol. He maintained that vehicle owners are effectively paying more because they are getting fewer kilometres per litre while fuel prices remain unchanged.
Announcing his next move, Kejriwal said he would soon write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to reconsider the policy and withdraw the mandatory implementation of E20 petrol. He said governments should listen to public concerns and review policies that directly affect millions of citizens.
The controversy comes even as the Centre continues to defend the ethanol blending programme. The government has maintained that E20 fuel is backed by scientific studies, helps reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil, lowers emissions and supports farmers by increasing ethanol production. It has also rejected claims that the fuel causes widespread engine damage and denied reports suggesting that the programme was described as an "experiment" before the Supreme Court.
The debate over E20 petrol has gathered momentum in recent weeks, with consumer groups and opposition leaders demanding greater clarity on its impact, while the government insists the policy is safe, beneficial and in line with international practices.
