New Delhi: The National Townhall Against E-20, organized by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at the Constitution Blub in Delhi on Saturday, received overwhelming support from across the country. Comedian Shyam Rangeela, imitating Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responded to AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s questions, leaving the more than 700,000 people watching the townhall online and offline laughing and understanding the rationale behind the forced imposition of E-20. During the meeting, Arvind Kejriwal, on behalf of the countrymen, placed three demands before the Modi government. First, there should be a choice between E-20 and pure petrol at petrol pumps. Second, E-20 should be cheaper than pure petrol. Third, the price of petrol should be less than ₹84 per liter.
Arvind Kejriwal said that Modi is forcing ethanol on the people of our country to please Trump. The United States is the world’s largest producer of ethanol. Last year, India imported 1 billion liters of ethanol from the United States. After E-20 is implemented this year, India will import five times more ethanol from the US than last year. To appease Trump, Modi is ruining the country’s people. He appealed to the people to stop buying petrol and diesel vehicles. “Don’t buy vehicles until E-100 vehicles are manufactured in the country. This government will ruin you.”
The government and its ministers are repeatedly calling E-20 safe and those who speak out against it anti-national – Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal said that Modi has imposed E-20 adulterated petrol on our country. The people of the country are deeply troubled by this. More than 700,000 people have joined to express their support on this issue. I am sure the central government will also be watching this program. Whenever their ministers come, they claim that E-20 is safe, that there are no problems with E-20, and that those who raise their voices against E-20 are anti-national. I want to tell them that today we presented so many testimonies and evidence before them. An organization called Local Circles surveyed 45,000 vehicle users across the country. It revealed that 67 percent of people experienced reduced mileage and 45 percent suffered engine failure. So many people shared their grievances today. Are they all liars and all this is false? Yet their ministers come and say that E-20 is fine.
If the government has any report or study on E-20, it should be presented to the country – Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal said that the government should present a report, a scientific study, or any engineering evidence in response, but they will not provide anything. They say they have conducted a study. If they have conducted a study, there must be a report; they should show that report. We too are educated, even more so than them. Their degrees are fake, but ours are genuine. People have requested my degree under RTI, and my institute, IIT Kharagpur, provided it. When I requested their degree, a criminal case was filed against me. A trial is underway in Gujarat, asking why I requested their degree. If they have a report, they should show it. This should be discussed within the country.
People should only buy electric vehicles; this government is also planning to adulterate diesel – Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal further stated that the government is saying that it is not introducing E-25, E-30, or E-40 vehicles yet; studies are underway. They are simply waiting to see how long it takes for the issue to cool down. As soon as the issue calms down, they will introduce E-25, E-30, and E-40 vehicles. They are not conducting any research, they are engaging in hooliganism and have forced their way through the country. Therefore, my appeal is to stop buying petrol and diesel vehicles. For example, E-10 vehicles were replaced with E-20 vehicles, and the vehicles broke down. Next year, E-10 vehicles will be replaced with E-25, E-30, and E-40 vehicles, and the furnace will collapse. Currently, E-20 vehicles are available in the market; if E-30 is added tomorrow, they too will break down. First, let the government introduce E-100 vehicles, and then buy a vehicle. If you must buy, buy an electric vehicle. Don’t even buy a diesel one, because these people are planning to adulterate diesel as well. Don’t buy any vehicle until E-100 vehicles start being manufactured in India. They are cheating; they will put E-20 in E-10 vehicles, E-50 in E-20 vehicles, E-100 in E-50 vehicles. They have created a ruckus.
Many automakers are also admitting that E-20 is unsafe in vehicles manufactured before 2023, but they are unwilling to provide written assurances due to fear of the Modi government. – Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal said, “I wrote to 29 companies manufacturing petrol-powered two-wheelers and four-wheelers in India. I asked them only two questions: can E-20 be used in their vehicles manufactured before 2023? If so, and if someone’s vehicle breaks down or their mileage decreases, will they provide written assurances that they will compensate?” No one responded in writing, but I spoke in detail with officials from nine companies. They stated that vehicles manufactured before 2023 were E-20 and cannot be used in them. The government has imposed a law that using E-20 will harm both the vehicle and its mileage. The officials said that if they provide written assurances, the Prime Minister is threatening to shut down the factory, conduct Income Tax raids, close the plant, and send the ED to investigate.” The companies say that if they give in writing at the behest of the government that E-20