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PoliticsKejriwal writes to Modi demanding rollback of India's E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme
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On July 3, 2026, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the rollback of India's 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20) programme. In a video message on X, Kejriwal claimed the Centre had told the Supreme Court on June 30 that the programme was an 'experiment,' though the government later denied making such a statement. He cited widespread public complaints of reduced vehicle mileage after switching to E20 fuel and pointed to a Bharat Petroleum executive's statement that ethanol has lower energy content than petrol. Kejriwal questioned why the programme was rolled out nationwide without prior limited testing on vehicles and asked whether the government would compensate owners for potential damage. He invited public suggestions for his letter to the PM, urging a policy reconsideration.
Source report
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday (July 3, 2026) announced he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the rollback of the 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20) programme, citing concerns over vehicle mileage and public backlash.
Key Allegations
In a video message posted on X, Mr. Kejriwal made the following claims:
- Supreme Court submission: The Centre informed the Supreme Court through the Attorney General on June 30 that the E20 fuel programme was "an experiment" and its future would depend on the outcome.
- Government denial: After media reports highlighted the court proceedings, the Centre denied making such a submission and described the reports as incorrect.
- Mileage concerns: Many people have reported a decline in mileage after switching to E20 petrol.
- Energy content: Citing a statement by a Bharat Petroleum executive, Mr. Kejriwal claimed that ethanol has lower energy content than petrol.
Call for Caution
Questioning the nationwide rollout, Mr. Kejriwal said any such experiment should first be conducted on a limited number of vehicles before being implemented on a large scale. He also asked whether the government would compensate vehicle owners if their vehicles were damaged due to the use of ethanol-blended petrol.
Next Steps
Mr. Kejriwal said he would write to the Prime Minister in the coming days requesting the withdrawal of the E20 programme. He invited the public to share suggestions for the letter through comments and direct messages on social media.
Source
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Regional
Part of this Story
Kejriwal leads campaign against India's E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme