New Delhi, August 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal was stopped by Delhi Police on Tuesday while marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence along with 100 people who claimed to be affected by E20 petrol and more than 2.33 lakh petitions seeking withdrawal of the policy.
After being prevented from meeting the Prime Minister, Kejriwal sat on the road with the petitions and insisted that they be accepted. Police officials informed him that the Prime Minister would not meet the delegation and later took custody of the petitions, bringing the demonstration to an end.
Kejriwal accused the Centre of imposing E20-blended petrol under pressure from US President Donald Trump and urged Prime Minister Modi to show the same resolve while dealing with international pressure as he was showing against protesters.
“If E20 is not withdrawn, the country will once again be compelled to launch a major movement,” Kejriwal said.
Addressing a press conference after the protest, Kejriwal said the AAP delegation had planned to submit 2,33,238 petitions to the Prime Minister. He said the party had sought time earlier to discuss the issue but received no response.
He alleged that the government was forcing E20 petrol despite concerns over reduced mileage and possible impact on vehicle components. Kejriwal claimed that even the Centre had acknowledged in Parliament that fuel efficiency decreases with E20 and that certain engine components could be affected.
Questioning the government’s argument that ethanol blending would save foreign exchange and benefit farmers, Kejriwal alleged that the policy was benefiting farmers in the United States rather than those in India. He demanded that the government stop importing ethanol from the US and reconsider the policy.
On the petition campaign, Kejriwal said the response from over 2.33 lakh people showed widespread concern over the issue. He added that fresh copies of the petitions would be submitted if sought by the Prime Minister’s Office.
He also said that the Punjab Assembly had passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of E20 petrol and announced that AAP legislators in Gujarat, Goa and Jammu and Kashmir would also move similar resolutions.
Senior AAP leaders, including Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Sanjay Singh, joined the protest.
Sanjay Singh alleged that the government had compromised the interests of Indian consumers by accepting pressure from Trump and claimed that the issue affected nearly 30 crore vehicles across the country. He said a large police deployment was used to stop a delegation of only 100 affected vehicle owners.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said people were raising concerns over reduced mileage, possible engine damage and increased servicing costs due to E20 petrol. He questioned why the government was continuing with the policy despite public objections.
The petition submitted by citizens urged the Prime Minister to provide consumers a choice between pure petrol and E20 fuel at fuel stations and to reduce the price of E20 petrol to account for lower calorific value and reduced mileage.
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