Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, August 4, said his party's campaign against E20 fuel would continue and urged people to join
the protest in large numbers if they wanted to stop its implementation. Kejriwal addressed a press conference after leading a march towards the Prime Minister's residence with petitions opposing E20 fuel. Addressing a press conference, Arvind Kejriwal said that the party was carrying more than 2.30 lakh petitions. "A month ago, we had sought an appointment with him to discuss the E20 issue, but received no response. When we went today to hand over the petitions, we were told that he would not meet us. This, essentially, reflects an authoritarian approach," Kejriwal said. Kejriwal, along with former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, AAP leader Jasmine Shah and other party leaders, were stopped by the police while marching to the PM's residence. Later, they staged a sit-in.
"Just as the government displayed authoritarianism during the entire NEET episode, it is showing the same attitude on the E20 issue by remaining adamant. The government itself has admitted in Parliament that E20 reduces fuel efficiency but only slightly. It has also acknowledged that while engine components may not necessarily be damaged, rubber parts can deteriorate. So, if mileage is affected and vehicle parts are being damaged, why is this being imposed on people?" Kejriwal said during the presser.
"It appears that this is being done because Prime Minister Modi is under pressure from President Trump. Trump is allegedly pressuring India to buy ethanol from the United States and sell it in India, which is why this entire E20 policy has been pushed. Our appeal to the Prime Minister is simple... stop importing ethanol from the United States, learn to withstand pressure from President Trump, and do not make the entire country suffer because of it," he added.
Meanwhile, the BJP said that Kejriwal was trying to revive his "failed politics" through the E20 protest. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh dismissed Kejriwal's protest as "absurd", "meaningless" and politically motivated.
"Kejriwal's campaign is against India's farmers. You are trying to deprive farmers of their income, Kejriwal ji. Ethanol is produced from crops such as maize, sugarcane and other agricultural produce. Ethanol has been used in many countries around the world for several decades, and its use in India has also been implemented in a scientific manner," he told reporters in Parliament House complex.
"But Kejriwal only wants to create unnecessary controversy. He wants to indulge in politics at any cost. His concern is neither the nation, nor vehicles, nor the problems of the people. He is merely trying to revive his failed politics. There is no scientific basis for his arguments," Chugh claimed.
(With PTI inputs)
