'E20 petrol forcibly enforced': Kejriwal seeks public inputs for letter to PM Modi, says country now 'experimental lab'

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday accused the Centre of "forcibly imposing" ethanol-blended petrol on people, alleging that it is damaging vehicles and reducing fuel efficiency.In a post on X, Kejriwal said there was widespread public anger over 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20)."The entire country is an experimental lab for the Modi government. E20 petrol is being forcibly imposed on people. Due to ethanol, people's vehicles are breaking down, parts are getting damaged, and mileage is dropping. People are extremely angry," Kejriwal said.He said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue and sought suggestions from the public."I am going to write a letter to the Prime Minister on this matter. All of you, please DM me and comment to tell me what I should write in the letter," he said.The remarks come amid concerns over the impact of E20 petrol on vehicles.Earlier this week, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the Centre over the Ethanol Blended Petrol (E20) programme, alleging that the Union government had made "3.6 crore Indians part of an experiment" by rolling out ethanol-blended fuel without adequate evidence, public consultation or consensus.

Citing the Centre's submissions before the Supreme Court, Kharge claimed the government had admitted that the impact of ethanol blending was still being assessed, while accusing it of implementing the policy without sufficient public consultation or consensus.Meanwhile, last week, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reiterated that the Ethanol Blending Programme is scientifically validated and continuously monitored, following concerns over what it described as misleading and unsubstantiated claims being circulated on social media about ethanol-blended petrol (EBP).The Ethanol Blending Programme was launched in 2003 with the objectives of reducing crude oil imports, enhancing energy security and promoting environmental sustainability.The programme has been implemented in phases based on technical preparedness and stakeholder consultations, culminating in the rollout of 20 per cent ethanol blending (E20) from 2023 onwards.