‘Give People a Choice’: Arvind Kejriwal Announces August 4 March to PM’s Residence Over E20 Fuel, Alleges Ethanol Imports Will Surge

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has escalated his campaign against the Centre’s E20 fuel policy, announcing a march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on August 4. The protest aims to demand greater consumer choice at petrol pumps and challenge the government’s nationwide rollout of petrol blended with 20% ethanol.

Speaking at a town hall-style meeting on E20 fuel at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi on Saturday, Kejriwal said he would collect petitions from citizens before leading a group of around 100 people to Lok Kalyan Marg, the Prime Minister’s official residence.

Demand for choice between E20 and pure petrol

Kejriwal’s primary demand is that consumers should be allowed to choose between E20 petrol and pure petrol at every fuel station.

According to him, motorists should not be compelled to use ethanol-blended fuel without having an alternative. He also urged the Centre to introduce differential pricing, arguing that E20 should be significantly cheaper than regular petrol.

The AAP leader reiterated his earlier proposal that pure petrol should be priced at around ₹82 per litre, while E20 petrol should cost approximately ₹70 per litre, instead of the current retail price of about ₹102 per litre in several cities.

Seeks scientific evidence supporting E20

Questioning the government’s claims about the safety of E20 fuel, Kejriwal called on the Centre to make public the scientific study it has relied upon.

He said the government has repeatedly stated that E20 does not harm vehicle engines, but argued that the supporting research should be released for public scrutiny.

“The Centre says studies have been conducted and E20 does not damage vehicles. If that’s the case, the report should be made public,” Kejriwal said during the event.

Alleges ethanol imports could increase sharply

Stepping up his criticism, Kejriwal alleged that ethanol is more expensive than petrol and claimed that large-scale ethanol production is putting pressure on agricultural land, water resources and farmers.

He further alleged that India’s ethanol imports could increase five-fold compared to last year following the nationwide implementation of the E20 programme. He linked the policy to the India-US trade agreement, alleging that the Centre was pushing E20 despite concerns raised by consumers.

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The Union government has not accepted these allegations and has consistently defended the ethanol blending programme.

Reference to youth protests

During his address, Kejriwal also referred to recent youth demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, saying public movements gain momentum when citizens are willing to raise their voices despite the possibility of arrests or police action.

He urged people concerned about E20 fuel to participate peacefully and make their opinions heard through democratic means.

Government continues to defend ethanol blending

The Union government’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme currently mandates petrol blended with 20% ethanol. India achieved its 20% ethanol blending target in July 2025, five years ahead of the original 2030 deadline.

The Centre maintains that the programme is aimed at reducing dependence on imported crude oil, lowering carbon emissions, improving energy security and creating additional income opportunities for farmers through ethanol production.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has dismissed claims that E20 fuel damages vehicle engines or significantly reduces mileage, describing such concerns as rumours. He has said the policy is backed by scientific studies and remains an important part of India’s long-term energy transition strategy.

As the debate over E20 continues, the issue is emerging as a fresh political flashpoint, with the opposition demanding greater transparency and consumer choice while the Centre insists the policy serves the country’s economic and environmental interests.