A planned march by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the E20 petrol issue was stopped by Delhi Police on Tuesday.
Kejriwal, accompanied by around 100 people, had planned to reach the Prime Minister’s residence to submit petitions signed by members of the public and raise concerns about ethanol-blended petrol.
When police stopped the group during the march, Kejriwal appealed to the officers and said that the protesters were not terrorists and only wanted to meet Prime Minister Modi to discuss the E20 fuel issue.
Kejriwal Wants Meeting With PM Modi Over E20 Petrol
The AAP leader said he wanted to personally hand over the petitions to PM Modi after receiving no response to a letter he had sent to the Prime Minister last month.
The letter reportedly sought an appointment to discuss concerns surrounding E20 petrol and the problems some vehicle owners may face with ethanol-blended fuel.
Kejriwal said the AAP had collected more than two lakh signatures through its petition campaign against ethanol-blended petrol.
He also called for consumers to have a choice between regular petrol and E20 fuel at petrol stations. Along with this, he demanded a reduction in the price of ethanol-blended petrol.
“We Want to Discuss Ethanol”: AAP
AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bhardwaj said the group had arrived with a large number of petitions and wanted to submit them to the Prime Minister.
Bhardwaj said the party wanted a discussion on ethanol and maintained that there should be dialogue on the concerns being raised over ethanol-blended fuel.
According to a police source cited in the information provided, the march had not received permission.
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Kejriwal Raises Concerns Over Vehicle Compatibility
Kejriwal has repeatedly raised concerns about E20 petrol, particularly its impact on vehicles that may not be compatible with higher ethanol blending.
He said people were reporting problems with their vehicles while the government continued with the E20 policy. He also questioned the reasoning behind continuing the programme despite these concerns.
The former Delhi Chief Minister had previously written to PM Modi seeking a meeting on the issue. With no response received, he said he decided to personally deliver the petitions.
Kejriwal also said an “Ethanol Townhall” organised by the AAP had received a strong response, with many participants joining virtually.
BJP Criticises Kejriwal’s Protest
The BJP criticised the planned march and questioned the political basis of Kejriwal’s campaign against ethanol-blended petrol.
BJP MP Tarun Chugh described the campaign as meaningless and argued that ethanol blending was being pursued through a scientific process. He also claimed that ethanol provides benefits to farmers.
Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra also criticised Kejriwal for announcing the march without permission. He alleged that the move was part of a political competition with Congress over protests outside the Prime Minister’s residence.
Malhotra accused Kejriwal of creating a situation that could lead to confrontation with the police and then portraying himself as a victim when stopped.
Political Tensions Over PM Residence Protests
The latest confrontation comes amid a series of political protests involving opposition leaders near the Prime Minister’s residence.
Last month, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led a march towards PM Modi’s residence in connection with a protest over police action against students demanding reforms in the education system. He was removed from the spot and briefly detained.
Kejriwal’s latest attempt to march to the Prime Minister’s residence has now added another political flashpoint, this time centred on E20 petrol and ethanol blending.
What Happens Next on E20 Petrol?
The dispute over E20 petrol continues to involve questions about vehicle compatibility, consumer choice, fuel pricing and the wider impact of ethanol blending.
Kejriwal has demanded that petrol stations offer consumers the option of choosing between pure petrol and E20 fuel. The AAP has also pushed for discussions on the issue through its petition campaign and town hall meeting.
For now, the planned march has been stopped by Delhi Police, while the political debate over E20 petrol is expected to continue between the AAP and BJP.
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