Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, declared on Saturday that he and a group of 100 people "who are not afraid of lathis" would march on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home on Tuesday, August 4, to deliver printouts of petitions signed by over two lakh citizens opposing the Center's E20 petrol policy.
The statement was made at the conclusion of his National Town Hall Against E20 on Saturday at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. He said that the policy was being enforced "to keep America happy" and connected the introduction of 20% ethanol-blended petrol to a recent trade agreement between the US and India. The large number of Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force officers outside the event was noted by AAP leaders.
The NEET-UG exam leak incident has sparked massive protests in Delhi. Following a police attack on demonstrators on July 20 that caused the crowds to grow, Dhamrmendra Pradhan was forced to step down as Union Education Minister.
Speaking to a sizable crowd that had participated digitally, Kejriwal announced that the online petition that had been started a few days prior had already received more than two lakh signatures. "I've printed them out. I will personally go to the Prime Minister's home on Tuesday, August 4 at noon to turn in all of those petitions. Everyone is not required to attend. He invited volunteers to tag him and write to him if they wanted to participate in the march, saying, "I will take 100 such people with me who are not afraid of lathis."
Tehseen Poonawalla, an activist, was under house arrest in New Delhi at the time. In opposition to the Center's execution of the E20 program, Poonawalla had organized a march to Gandhi Smriti and a day-long hunger strike.
KEJRIWAL'S THREE E20 PETROL DEMANDS
The audience vocally supported the three demands made by the AAP leader.
In order for the market to make a decision, drivers must first be offered the option of pure gasoline or E20 at gas stations. The second demand was that the price of pure gasoline be lower than that of E20, which contains 20% ethanol. Petrol should be sold for less than Rs 84 a litre, according to the third demand. "Are these three demands acceptable to you? Kejriwal urged the Prime Minister to review the issue in the Cabinet and reverse the decision, saying, "So today we make these three demands."
According to Kejriwal, ethanol is more expensive than gasoline after taxes are eliminated, has a poorer mileage due to its lower caloric value, does not save foreign exchange as advertised, and has caused pollution, water scarcity, and land damage for farmers who live close to ethanol factories.
The AAP leader denied claims that the policy was intended to help the family of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, stating that he did not think PM Modi was doing so. Rather, he asserted that the true motivator was a new trade agreement between the United States and India that calls for India to purchase $100 billion worth of American goods over a five-year period.
According to Kejriwal, America, the biggest producer of ethanol in the world with little domestic demand, was looking for a market in India. "To keep America happy, ethanol is being forcibly imposed on our country," Kejriwal said, adding that regular car owners were paying the price.
He claimed that imports had already increased significantly and were expected to fivefold this year to five billion liters, almost entirely from the United States, costing India billions of dollars.
Strong presence of the RAF and CRPF outside the AAP's national town hall
Before the Town Hall started, there was a strong security presence outside the Constitution Club. Speaking in a video that was uploaded on X, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that a significant number of Rapid Action Force, CRPF, Delhi Police, and female cops had been deployed. "The Delhi Police, CRPF, and Rapid Action Force have arrived in hundreds, if not thousands. In front of the Constitution Club hall, they are all completely present," he remarked.
Following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation due to the current Cockroach Janta Party protest, the E20 issue has gained political traction.
Kejriwal frequently cited the achievement, telling the audience that "the throne begins to shake" once people stop being afraid of the police and going to jail. Declaring that organizations like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax would be insufficient if 140 crore Indians united, he called on people all over the nation to upload films, tag him, and spread the word.
According to Tehseen Poonawalla, he is under house arrest.
Separately, activist Tehseen Poonawalla claimed he was put under house arrest by Delhi Police on Saturday morning. Poonawalla had organized a hunger strike and a silent march to Gandhi Smriti in protest of the same E20 policy. Poonawalla questioned an officer about the lack of a written order in recordings he broadcast from his home, which had police officers—including female officers—stationed at his door.
"I've been placed under house arrest by a whole battalion of Delhi Police, including female police! "Ethanol terrifies Nitin Gadkari," he wrote on X. For weeks, Poonawalla has been an outspoken opponent of both Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and the ethanol-blending initiative. After meeting with his representatives and requesting additional time, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri canceled his earlier plan for a larger march close to Parliament Street.
Although the Center claims that the blend does not harm automobiles, a decrease in mileage is likely. However, car owners and other organizations have claimed that the quick switch to E20 has decreased fuel efficiency, impacted engine performance, and increased maintenance expenses. The ethanol-blending program is emerging as the next political hot spot in New Delhi, with Kejriwal now bringing the matter to the Prime Minister's door and Poonawalla's protest being interrupted by purported house arrest.
