Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, 1 August announced a march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on 4 August at 12 noon, carrying petitions signed by over 2 lakh citizens demanding changes to the Centre's E20 fuel policy. The announcement came at the National Townhall Against E20 in New Delhi, where Kejriwal also called on the government to offer consumers a choice between pure petrol and E20 blended fuel at every petrol pump.

What Kejriwal Said

Addressing a packed hall with overflow crowds watching on outdoor screens, Kejriwal said he would personally lead a group of 100 people to submit the petitions. “I will take 100 people with me who are not afraid of lathis and not afraid of going to jail,” he said. “Whoever wants to join should write to me and tag me. We will take 100 people along, march towards the Prime Minister's residence, and then see what happens after that.”

Referring to the Congress party's earlier protests, Kejriwal said: “As far as they were allowed to go, I hope we will also be allowed to go that far.”

The Three Demands

Kejriwal outlined three specific demands raised at the townhall. First, petrol pumps must offer consumers a choice between pure petrol and E20. Second, E20 must be priced lower than pure petrol to reflect its ethanol blend. Third, with global crude oil prices having fallen, retail petrol prices should be brought below ₹84 per litre.

Scale of the Protest

Kejriwal claimed that more than 4 lakh people were watching the townhall online on the day of the event, and that the venue was filled beyond seating capacity with additional screens placed outside. He said the online petition had crossed 2 lakh signatures, printouts of which he intends to carry to the Prime Minister's residence on 4 August.

Government Response and Context

Kejriwal alleged that Union ministers had dismissed critics of E20 as “anti-national,” and claimed the government was monitoring the townhall. “Whenever their ministers come, they say E20 is safe, E20 has no problem,” he said, adding that testimonies and evidence presented at the event contradicted that position.

The E20 fuel policy, which mandates blending petrol with 20% ethanol, has drawn criticism from vehicle owners and mechanics who argue it affects engine performance and fuel efficiency in older vehicles not designed for high-ethanol blends. The AAP's protest marks one of the most organised political pushbacks against the policy to date. Whether the march proceeds unimpeded on 4 August will be closely watched.