AAP Demands E20 Rollback Over Compatibility, Price Issues in Assam Town Hall

Guwahati: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday organised ‘Assam Town Hall Against Forced E20’ at Bishnu Nirmala Bhawan in Guwahati ’s Latasil , bringing together automobile experts, industry experts and other eminent personalities to discuss the ‘Impact, Problems and Solutions of E20 Petrol’. The awareness programme focused on concerns surrounding E20 petrol, particularly the problems reportedly being faced by vehicle owners since the introduction of higher ethanol-blended fuel. Speakers discussed the compatibility of existing vehicles with E20 petrol, the potential impact on vehicle performance and the financial burden that could be faced by ordinary vehicle owners. The organisers said the objective of the town hall was to create public awareness about the issue and place the concerns before the government. The meeting also discussed opposing the mandatory use of E20 petrol and seeking appropriate action from the Centre. Among those present at the programme were Dr Bhaben Choudhury, Dr Junmoni Devi Khaund, Ramendra Chandra Borthakur, Mukul Dutta, Anurupa Dekaraja and several other prominent personalities. At the conclusion of the discussion, it was stated that the decisions and concerns raised during the programme would be conveyed to the Central government through a memorandum submitted via the Governor. ‘E20 Cannot Be Made Mandatory’ Speaking at the event, Dr Junmoni Devi Khaund said E20 petrol should not be made mandatory at present as a large number of vehicles currently in use are not compatible with the fuel. “The main demand is that E20 cannot be made mandatory at present because E20-compatible vehicles are not available to everyone. The vehicles people are currently using, particularly their engines, do not support E20,” she said. According to Khaund, making E20 mandatory could lead to vehicle breakdowns and place the financial burden on ordinary citizens, particularly those who depend on their vehicles for their livelihood. “Today, two-wheelers and four-wheelers are not a luxury but a necessity. If a vehicle breaks down, the government is not going to bear the cost of the damage. If E20 is being made mandatory, is the government ready to compensate people for such damages?” she asked. She also raised concerns over the price of E20 petrol, arguing that if consumers are required to use the fuel, it should be significantly cheaper than conventional petrol. “E20 is not very cheap compared to normal petrol. So, if people are expected to use E20, it should be available at around Rs 30-40,” Khaund said. ‘Vehicles Must Be E20-Compatible’ Dr Bhaben Choudhury also questioned the availability of E20-compatible vehicles in the country and stressed the need for compatibility before making the fuel mandatory. “At present, E20-compatible vehicles are not available across India. A number of vehicles can support E10, but not E20. If E20 is to be used, vehicles must be compatible with the fuel and its price should also be substantially lower than that of normal petrol,” Choudhury said. He further argued that consumers should retain the option of purchasing regular petrol and that its price should remain competitive with prevailing market rates. Choudhury also referred to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's comments regarding ethanol production and alleged that members of Gadkari's family are involved in a significant share of ethanol production. “Nitin Gadkari has said that he has no connection with ethanol production. On the other hand, his family members are involved in about 90 per cent of ethanol production,” he claimed. The remarks were made in the context of the wider debate over ethanol blending and the government's push towards E20 fuel. AAP's Nationwide E20 Campaign The Assam Town Hall is part of AAP's broader campaign against E20 fuel. Earlier this month, the party announced a nationwide campaign to highlight what it described as the adverse impact of E20 petrol on vehicles. As part of the campaign, Town Hall meetings began on August 8 across different states. AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal entrusted senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj with leading the campaign in different parts of the country. Through the Assam programme, the party sought to bring together experts and citizens to discuss the concerns surrounding E20 and press for greater consumer choice and safeguards before any mandatory implementation. Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal Demands Halt to US Ethanol Imports, Seeks E20 Rollback