Panaji, Aug. 25 -- AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday stepped up his attack on the Centre's nationwide rollout of E20 petrol, alleging that auto majors are being forced to stay silent on its risks.

Addressing a press conference in Goa ahead of a town hall on the issue, Kejriwal claimed top officials of leading car and bike companies have privately admitted that E20 fuel can cause severe damage to vehicles manufactured before 2023, but are refusing to speak publicly due to government pressure.

Kejriwal said he wrote letters to 29 automobile manufacturing companies, asking them whether E20 fuel could be safely used in vehicles manufactured by them before 2023. He said he received no response to the letters.

"I wrote letters...