Kejriwal leads anti-E20 protest, police stop march to PM's residence
AAP staged a sit-in after being prevented from marching to the Prime Minister's residence with petitions against E20 fuel.
PTI
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After being stopped by police, AAP leaders handed over 2.3 lakh petitions to the Prime Minister's Office (PTI)
New Delhi, 4 August
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday marched towards the Prime Minister's residence with over 2.30 lakh petitions against E20 petrol but was stopped by Delhi Police, prompting him and party leaders to stage a sit-in on Firoz Shah Road and call for an intensified agitation against the blended fuel policy.
The march, which began with around 100 people, including vehicle owners the party said were affected by E20 petrol, saw protesters carrying bundles of petitions on their heads and shouting slogans against the Centre's ethanol-blended fuel policy.
The protesters shouted slogans such as "Trump ki gulami band karo", "Ethanol kharidna band karo", and "Petrol chor kaha milenge, BJP ke daftar mein".
Kejriwal was joined by former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, AAP leader Jasmine Shah and other party leaders. Police stopped the march near 5, Firoz Shah Road, where the leaders sat on the road with the petitions, insisting that they be accepted.
Police later took custody of the petitions after informing the delegation that the prime minister would not meet them. Police sources said the protesters would not be allowed to proceed beyond 5, Firoz Shah Road.
"No one will be allowed ahead of 5, Firoz Shah Road. We have deployed adequate security, including Delhi Police and paramilitary forces, to maintain law and order," a police officer said.
Addressing supporters before the march, Kejriwal said the party was carrying more than 2.30 lakh petitions signed by people from across the country and urged the government to listen to the concerns of crores of vehicle owners.
"We are going to the Prime Minister’s residence with over 2.30 lakh petitions signed by people from across the country. We want the government to listen to the concerns of crores of vehicle owners who are facing problems because of E20 petrol," he said.
After the protest, Kejriwal said on X that the delegation had been stopped from meeting the prime minister and that the petitions had been sent to the Prime Minister's Office.
At a press conference later, he said the party had sought an appointment with the prime minister a month ago but received no response, adding that the refusal to meet the delegation reflected a dictatorial attitude.
He reiterated his demand that consumers should be given the option of choosing between pure petrol and E20 at fuel stations and that E20 should be sold at a lower price if it was going to be promoted.
He claimed the government itself had admitted in Parliament that fuel efficiency declines with E20 and that some engine components are affected.
Kejriwal alleged that the Centre was pursuing the E20 policy despite public concerns and repeated his charge that it was being implemented under pressure from US President Donald Trump. He said the party would continue its campaign and, if required, launch a larger public movement against the policy.
He also said AAP legislators in Gujarat, Goa and Jammu and Kashmir would move resolutions in their respective Assemblies seeking withdrawal of the E20 policy, following a similar resolution passed in the Punjab Assembly.
The protest came days after the AAP held an "Ethanol Town Hall" and launched a nationwide signature campaign against E20 fuel. Kejriwal had earlier written to the prime minister seeking an appointment to discuss concerns over ethanol-blended petrol and demanding that consumers be given the option to choose between pure petrol and E20 at fuel stations.
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