AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal calls for large-scale protests against Centre's E20 petrol policy

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Aug 4 called for large-scale protests against the Centre's E20 petrol policy after Delhi Police stopped his march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, where he had planned to submit a petition demanding greater consumer choice in fuel.

Kejriwal, accompanied by senior AAP leaders including Manish Sisodia, was prevented from proceeding towards the Prime Minister's residence on Firoz Shah Road, following which party leaders staged a sit-in protest.

The march was organised as part of AAP's campaign against the mandatory rollout of E20 petrol, a blend containing 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol.

Addressing a press conference after the protest, Kejriwal said the campaign against the E20 policy would continue and urged people across the country to join what he described as a mass movement against the Centre's decision.

He said large-scale public protests were necessary to compel the government to withdraw the policy and reiterated AAP's demand that consumers should be allowed to choose between conventional petrol and E20 fuel at petrol pumps.

According to AAP, Kejriwal had sought an appointment with Prime Minister Modi through a letter sent last month to discuss concerns surrounding the E20 policy. The party said it received no response and therefore decided to organise the march to submit a petition signed by around 2.5 lakh people.

Following the protest, the AAP reiterated its stand in a post on X, stating: "No More Forced E20. The People Deserve Transparency. You can deploy thousands of police personnel, but you cannot hide from the people's questions. Prime Minister Modi will have to answer."

The party has maintained that its opposition is not to ethanol blending itself but to what it describes as the compulsory implementation of E20 without giving consumers the option of purchasing regular petrol.

Kejriwal has repeatedly demanded that both fuels be made available at petrol pumps and has called for a reduction in the price of ethanol-blended fuel if it continues to be sold.

The Centre's E20 programme is part of its broader strategy to increase ethanol blending in petrol to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, improve energy security and lower vehicular emissions.

However, the policy has triggered political criticism, with AAP alleging that consumers have not been given adequate choice or transparency regarding its implementation.