Kejriwal Demands Pure Petrol Option Alongside E20, Seeks Cut in Fuel Prices
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged the Centre to offer consumers a choice between pure petrol and E20 fuel at petrol pumps, saying motorists should be free to decide which fuel they use.
Addressing the party’s National Town Hall Against E20 at Delhi’s Constitution Club, Kejriwal also called for E20 petrol to be priced lower than pure petrol and demanded that petrol prices be brought down to below ₹84 per litre.
According to the AAP, more than seven lakh people participated in the programme through online and offline platforms.
‘Give Consumers the Choice’
Kejriwal said the government should not make E20 the only option available at fuel stations.
“Every petrol pump should sell both pure petrol and E20. If people prefer E20, they can buy it. If they want pure petrol, that option should also be available. Let consumers decide what is best for their vehicles,” he said.
He also argued that E20 should cost less than conventional petrol and accused the government of keeping fuel prices artificially high.
Raises Questions Over E20 Policy
During the town hall, Kejriwal questioned the Centre’s push for E20 fuel, alleging that it leads to lower mileage and higher maintenance costs, particularly for older vehicles.
He urged the government to make public the scientific studies and technical reports backing the nationwide rollout of E20, saying the policy should be supported by transparent evidence.
The former Delhi chief minister also claimed he had reached out to several automobile manufacturers seeking clarity on the compatibility of older vehicles with E20 fuel but did not receive written responses.
Claims Linked to India-US Trade Deal
Kejriwal further alleged that the government’s ethanol policy was linked to the recently announced India-US trade agreement, claiming India would sharply increase ethanol imports from the United States as E20 adoption expands. He did not provide evidence for the claim, and the Centre has not stated that the E20 programme is linked to the trade deal.
Centre Backs Ethanol Blending
The Centre has defended the E20 rollout, saying ethanol blending reduces dependence on imported crude oil, cuts emissions and supports India’s biofuel programme.
Earlier this week, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told Parliament that E20 fuel may reduce mileage by 2% to 6%, depending on the vehicle, but said it does not damage engines. He added that some older BS-III vehicles may require replacement of certain rubber components to ensure compatibility with the higher ethanol blend.
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