New Delhi, July 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced a National Town Hall meeting against the Centre’s E20 fuel policy, inviting citizens to participate in discussions on the issue on August 1 at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.
Making the announcement on social media platform X, Kejriwal urged people to unite against the ethanol-blended fuel policy, drawing a parallel with recent protests over alleged irregularities in the education sector.
“When the country’s youth united and raised their voices, Dharmendra Pradhan was forced to resign. We must similarly unite and raise our voices regarding E20. This Saturday, we are organising a ‘National Townhall Against E20,’ where you can join and share your views on the issue. You can also participate online. Everyone is invited,” he posted.
According to the announcement, the event will be held on August 1, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the Constitution Club, New Delhi, with provisions for online participation.
The announcement comes amid an intensifying political debate over the Centre’s decision to implement E20 fuel, which consists of 20 per cent ethanol blended with 80 per cent petrol, as the standard petrol across the country.
Opposition parties have questioned the rollout, citing a 2021 NITI Aayog report and alleging that the government did not fully adhere to the phased implementation and safeguards suggested before introducing E20 nationwide in April 2025.
The Union government, however, has maintained that no decision has been taken to increase ethanol blending in petrol beyond 20 per cent.
Responding to a query in the Lok Sabha on July 23, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi stated that any future move towards higher ethanol blends would be considered only after detailed scientific and technical studies and consultations with stakeholders, including automobile manufacturers, oil marketing companies and research institutions.
He also clarified that E85 fuel, containing 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol, has been introduced exclusively for certified Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and does not represent an increase in the nationwide ethanol blending level for regular petrol.
The minister further noted that India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has been implemented through a phased and consultative process involving NITI Aayog, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), oil marketing companies and other technical institutions.
FOLLOW NOW
