E20 Series: Arvind Kejriwal interacts with people on Delhi streets to understand impact, says ‘Everyone is desperate’ | Today’s news
Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal hit the streets of the capital to get people’s views on the impact of E20 petrol on their vehicles. “My car broke down three times in two months,” one person told Kejriwal. Another said: “Had to bring the car in with a crane. Many have also complained about the drop in mileage.”
Sharing a video of his interaction with people, Kejriwal wrote on X, “Yesterday I spoke to some auto mechanics and vehicle owners in Delhi about ethanol. There was a long line of cars damaged due to E20. Also there has been a massive drop in vehicle mileage. Everyone is desperate.”
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Arguing that the government’s claims about the fuel do not reflect consumer experience, he questions why the government cannot provide an “option” of clean gasoline alongside E20.
“The Modi government must understand that giving fake interviews on TV and holding fake press conferences will not change the ground reality. Stop forcing E20 on people. Now it is going over the heads of the middle class,” added the former Delhi chief minister.
To understand the effects of E20 petrol on vehicles, Kejriwal spoke to owners who came to refuel and others who brought their vehicles in for repairs.
Citing these interactions, the AAP chief claimed that people have consistently reported reduced mileage and mechanical problems after using E20 petrol.
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He claimed that the government’s claims about E20 are “blatant lies” and that ordinary people are facing problems because of ethanol fuel.
In a post on X, Kejriwal said, “Today I went to a petrol pump and petrol station in Delhi to understand the ground reality. Govt is telling white lies.”
“Vehicles are really struggling because of E20. Ordinary people are very upset with ethanol. Almost everyone’s mileage has gone down and there are complaints of mechanical problems,” he added.
Heading towards petrol pumps and petrol stations, Kejriwal said in a video message: “For the last few days, I have observed that anyone in the country who is against E20 petrol is being abused by the ministers of this government.”
“They are called anti-nationals, traitors, petrol lobby agents, unemployed social activists and several other names. I want to tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi that such arrogance is out of place,” Kejriwal said.
He claimed: “Everyone who is raising awareness about E20 gasoline is concerned about its impact. They are our fellow citizens. They are not traitors. They are patriots.”
“It is wrong to abuse them in this way. I want to tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they should not be insulted like this. We live in a democracy. Listen to what they say. It is the duty of the government to listen to their grievances and address them,” he added.
Clarification from the government regarding the nationwide introduction of E20 fuel
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has clarified concerns about the nationwide introduction of E20 fuel and the lack of separate availability of pure E10 and E20 gasoline in retail outlets.
The ministry said maintaining different grades of petrol across India’s fuel distribution network would create significant operational and logistical challenges.
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It said the switch to E20 followed extensive consultation with car manufacturers, testing agencies and other stakeholders and was based on technical assessments of vehicle compatibility, engine performance, emissions and fuel economy.
According to the ministry, India’s network of over one million fuel retail outlets supported by refineries, terminals, warehouses and pipelines is not designed to handle multiple nationwide fuel supply chains simultaneously.
The ministry also said car manufacturers have supported the switch after extensive testing and continue to honor vehicle warranties.
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Citing field data, it noted that Maruti Suzuki serviced 2.84 million vehicles during the 2025-26 fiscal year, including 1.5 million older non-E20 certified vehicles, without reporting E20-related issues such as corrosion or abnormal wear. Hero MotoCorp reported similar findings.
The ministry acknowledged that E20 can reduce fuel consumption by 3-5 percent in some vehicles, but said the blend offers benefits including higher octane, better combustion, smoother engine performance, cleaner operation and lower life-cycle carbon emissions.
She added that the ethanol blending program will also reduce oil imports, enhance energy security and support farmers through increased ethanol production.
