Arvind Kejriwal led a march toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence on Tuesday to protest the government's E20 ethanol-petrol policy [1].
The demonstration highlights growing political friction over the forced adoption of higher ethanol blends in fuel, which critics argue may negatively impact vehicle performance and consumer costs.
Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Delhi chief minister, organized the procession to submit petitions demanding the reversal of the policy [1], [2]. The march was scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. [2] and consisted of approximately 100 people [3].
Protesters marched toward 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi, where the prime minister resides [1], [4]. The AAP said in a post on X that they intended to protest the forced imposition of the E20 petrol policy [2].
Despite the group's intent to deliver petitions directly to the residence, they did not reach the destination. Police stopped the procession at barricades at 7 p.m. [4].
"The march will begin at 12 noon and will have around 100 people," Kejriwal said [3].
The E20 policy, which promotes petrol blended with 20 percent ethanol, has become a flashpoint for the AAP. The party argues that the transition is being forced upon the public without adequate consideration for the existing vehicle fleet, a move they believe harms the average driver [2], [3].
“We will protest the forced imposition of the E20 petrol policy.”
This protest signals a strategic move by the AAP to align itself with transport unions and vehicle owners by opposing a key environmental and economic pillar of the central government's energy strategy. By targeting the Prime Minister's residence, Kejriwal is attempting to elevate a technical fuel policy into a broader narrative of government overreach and economic hardship for the working class.
