What happened: AAP announces a 100-person protest march against E20
Arvind Kejriwal, AAP national convenor, announced a protest march of 100 people to the Prime Minister’s residence for submitting a nationwide petition opposing E20 fuel (ethanol-blended petrol at 20% ethanol by volume in the term “E20” used in public debate).
Kejriwal urged participants to share videos alleging vehicle damage after using E20 and urged people not to buy petrol- and diesel-run vehicles.
AAP’s stated demands and Kejriwal’s allegations
AAP’s stated demands against E20 include the following points: Option at petrol pumps: providing consumer choice between pure petrol and E20 at petrol pumps.Lower price for E20: making E20 cheaper than pure petrol.Petrol price target: reducing petrol prices to below ₹84 per litre.
Kejriwal’s allegations against the E20 rollout include the following: Compulsion allegation: the government is forcibly imposing ethanol-blended fuel while asserting E20 safety.Discrediting claim: critics are labelled “anti-national”.Evidence allegation: the government has not provided scientific or engineering evidence supporting its safety claims.Deterrence allegation: the government threatens critics and files FIRs (First Information Reports).
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