Will you compensate? Kejriwal slams Centre on E20 fuel, reduced mileage concerns

Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday demanded that the Centre immediately halt the nationwide rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E20), alleging that the government had imposed the policy despite growing public concerns over fuel efficiency and the impact on vehicles.

He also accused the Centre of misleading people over reports that the programme had been described as an "experiment" before the Supreme Court.

In a video message released on Friday, Kejriwal claimed there was widespread dissatisfaction among vehicle owners and questioned the rationale behind implementing E20 across the country if its long-term impact was still under evaluation.

"There is huge public anger regarding 20% ethanol-blended petrol. On June 30, the Central Government stated through the Attorney General in the Supreme Court that this was merely an experiment and that future action would depend on the results," he said, alleging that the government later distanced itself from the reported submission after it attracted public attention.

Questioning the implementation of the policy, Kejriwal said, "And what kind of experiment is this? An experiment involves testing something on a limited scale—say, on a hundred, fifty, five hundred, or a thousand vehicles. Based on the results of such a trial, one decides whether or not to implement it nationwide".

"Yet, you have made ethanol-blended petrol mandatory for all vehicles across the entire country—serving a population of 1.4 billion—while claiming you are conducting an experiment".

He further alleged that consumers were reporting reduced mileage and mechanical issues, asking, "Will you compensate those whose vehicles are breaking down?"

Referring to a statement he attributed to a Bharat Petroleum executive, Kejriwal added, "They report a 30% drop in fuel efficiency, whereas you claim there isn't one. Listen to the statement made by your own expert—Mr. Anurag, an Executive Director at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. He clearly states that there is a 30% reduction in mileage".

Arguing that consumers were bearing the financial burden, he said, "If the mileage drops by 30%, shouldn't the price of the blended petrol also be reduced by 30%? You are charging the same price while people get lower mileage, effectively causing a huge increase in their expenses".

Kejriwal also claimed that many vehicle owners had complained of engine damage, rusting and higher maintenance costs.

"If people are opposing this, why are you forcing it upon them? Why don't you withdraw it? After all, it is the people who elected you. It is your duty to respect the people's vote, listen to them, and act in accordance with their wishes," he said, adding that he would soon write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking withdrawal of the policy.

HOT DEBATE AROUND E20 FUEL

His remarks come amid an ongoing debate over E20 fuel. India achieved its target of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol in 2025, ahead of schedule, with the government positioning the programme as a key initiative to reduce crude oil imports, improve energy security, lower carbon emissions and provide additional income opportunities for farmers.

The controversy intensified after reports suggested that the Centre had described the E20 programme as an "ongoing experiment" during a Supreme Court hearing.

However, the Ministry of Law and Justice categorically denied those reports, stating that the Attorney General had never referred to the ethanol-blending programme as an experiment and that such reports did not reflect the government's submissions before the court.

The government has also rejected claims that E20 petrol causes widespread engine damage, saying there is no scientific evidence establishing such a link.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has maintained that the programme is based on scientific evaluation, is continuously monitored and follows globally accepted practices adopted in countries such as the US, Brazil and Japan.

At the same time, consumer concerns have continued to surface. A recent LocalCircles survey of more than 44,000 owners of petrol vehicles manufactured before 2023 found that 66 per cent of respondents reported a decline in fuel efficiency of over 10 per cent since early 2025, while 55 per cent said their vehicles had experienced higher wear and tear or increased repair requirements.