Panaji, Aug. 25 -- AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday criticised the Centre over the implementation of E20-blended petrol, alleging that the government would not withdraw the fuel policy without political pressure. Addressing a Townhall in Miramar, Goa, he urged voters to defeat the BJP in Goa and Uttar Pradesh.
Kejriwal claimed that 80 per cent of vehicles in India were not compatible with E20 and alleged that mileage had fallen by 30-40 per cent in many vehicles, while engines and fuel transmission systems of 60-70 per cent vehicles were being damaged.
He said Goa was particularly affected due to its high vehicle ownership, with 87 per cent of families owning two-wheelers and 47 per cent four-wheelers. He claimed that since April 1, 2026, only E20 petrol had been available at petrol pumps across the country.
Kejriwal said he had written to 29 automobile manufacturers seeking their views on the use of E20 in vehicles manufactured before 2023, but received no response. He claimed officials of nine companies later told him anonymously that using E20 in older petrol vehicles could be dangerous.
He also alleged that the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) had submitted a research-based report to the Centre on July 28 seeking discontinuation of E20, but withdrew it within a week after pressure from the government.
Kejriwal claimed that sugarcane equivalent to 25 lakh tonnes of sugar had been diverted for ethanol production, contributing to a rise in sugar prices.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.