The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced on Friday that it will organise a series of nationwide town halls against E20 fuel, beginning August 8, to interact
with vehicle owners and gather feedback on issues arising from ethanol-blended petrol. Addressing a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the party had earlier organised a town hall in Delhi on the issue, in which around seven lakh people from across the country participated online. He said the party will take the campaign to different states, holding public meetings to understand people's concerns regarding E20 fuel (20 per cent crop-based ethanol with 80 per cent petrol) and raise awareness about the issue. Singh said Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj will coordinate the nationwide campaign. According to the party, the campaign will begin on August 8 in West Bengal, followed by programmes in Gujarat and Haryana on August 9, Telangana on August 11 and Chhattisgarh on August 17. Singh said the party would also appeal to people to join its protest against E20 fuel during these public meetings. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal opposed the E20 fuel programme, alleging it is being imposed on people and impacts vehicle performance. However, industry executives sought to allay concerns over the use of E20, saying the fuel has undergone rigorous scientific testing, is safe for both new and older vehicles, and is critical for reducing India’s dependence on imported crude oil. On Tuesday, Kejriwal marched towards the Prime Minister's residence with over 2.30 lakh petitions against E20 petrol but was stopped by the Delhi Police, prompting him and party leaders to stage a sit-in on Firoz Shah Road and call for an intensified agitation against the blended fuel policy.
