Kejriwal challenges Centre to prove E20 fuel policy is backed by science

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal has demanded that the Central government release the scientific research on which it based its decision to introduce E20 petrol, a fuel blend containing 20% ethanol. Speaking on Thursday, Mr. Kejriwal alleged that the policy was implemented without proper scientific assessment and warned that the government may next push E50, a blend with 50% ethanol. He also claimed that those raising concerns are being silenced.

E20 is part of the government's ethanol blending roadmap, under which 20% ethanol will be mixed with petrol. The policy was announced with a target of achieving this blend by 2025, and the government has said it will help reduce oil imports and emissions. However, Mr. Kejriwal argued that the decision was taken without adequate research and accused the Prime Minister of acting under pressure from the United States. "The PM is forcing ethanol on the country under pressure from US President Donald Trump, disregarding scientific evidence in the process," he said. He further claimed that the Prime Minister has never valued science, engineering, or research and is driven solely by a hidden agenda.

Mr. Kejriwal also cautioned the public against buying new petrol or diesel vehicles in the coming years. "Even if someone buys a new E20-compatible vehicle, the government will eventually force E50 petrol into it and damage that as well. The government is also planning to introduce ethanol blending in diesel. Therefore, people should avoid purchasing new petrol or diesel vehicles for the next few years," he said.

The AAP chief also alleged that his Instagram account has been restricted at the behest of the Central government. He said he received a notice from Instagram informing him that his account had been suppressed in India. "I tried calling them to find out why this was done, but no one gave me any explanation. I asked how this could be fixed, but no one had an answer. I also sent emails, but I did not receive any response," Mr. Kejriwal stated in a post on X.

He claimed that this is part of a broader crackdown on dissent. "If they can do this to me, I can only imagine what they must be doing to ordinary people. As soon as I raised this issue, I started receiving numerous messages and phone calls from people saying that their accounts had also been suppressed. It has come to light that the Central Government is pressuring Meta and Instagram to suppress the accounts of anyone who speaks against PM Modi, raises questions about E20-blended fuel, or speaks about the examination leaks," he added.

The Central government has not yet responded to Mr. Kejriwal's allegations. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has previously defended the ethanol blending programme as a scientifically backed initiative that aligns with global trends and serves India's energy security interests. However, critics have questioned the impact of ethanol blending on food security, water usage, and vehicle compatibility.

This is not the first time Mr. Kejriwal has raised questions about fuel policy. He has been a vocal critic of the government's handling of energy and environmental issues. The E20 debate also comes amid broader concerns about air pollution and India's transition to cleaner fuels. The government maintains that E20 is a key step towards reducing carbon emissions and reducing dependence on imported crude oil.

Meanwhile, the social media account restriction claim has yet to be independently verified. Meta, which owns Instagram, has not issued a statement on the matter. Earlier instances of account restrictions have often been attributed to automated content moderation or legal requests from authorities, but no evidence has been provided in this specific case.

As the political debate intensifies, the central government has stressed that all policy decisions are taken after thorough deliberation and consultation with experts. However, the lack of a public response to Mr. Kejriwal's specific demand for scientific evidence leaves the issue unresolved for now. The burden of proof, he insists, lies with the government.