AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, 11 July 2026, announced he would personally visit petrol pumps and service stations to speak with ordinary citizens about problems they are facing with the government's ethanol-blending programme, accusing the central government of branding every critic an 'anti-national' or a member of the 'petrol lobby.'

In a post in Hindi and English, Kejriwal wrote: 'Ethanol par bolne wale har aam aadmi ko sarkar tarah-tarah ki gaali de rahi hai — Anti-National, petrol lobby, aur bhi kuch-kuch.' ('The government is abusing every common person who speaks about ethanol — calling them anti-national, petrol lobby, and worse.') He added: 'This much arrogance is not right,' and said he would share citizens' concerns directly with the public.

Context

The central government's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has been a flagship energy-security initiative. The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 set an indicative target of 20 per cent ethanol blending by 2030, a deadline subsequently advanced to 2025 following a policy revision in 2021. The programme sources ethanol primarily from sugarcane and surplus food grains, with the stated goals of cutting crude oil imports and supporting farmers.

As E20 fuel — petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol — has rolled out at retail outlets across India, questions have emerged from vehicle owners, mechanics, and consumer groups about compatibility with older engines, fuel efficiency, and pricing transparency at the pump. Kejriwal's announcement signals that opposition scrutiny of these consumer-level concerns is intensifying.

Policy Backdrop

Successive central governments have expanded ethanol blending as a pillar of energy transition policy, linking procurement to sugarcane and grain surpluses to simultaneously support the farm sector. Oil marketing companies have been mandated to ramp up blending volumes year on year. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Punjab — a major grain-producing state — has periodically raised questions about the pace of rollout, retail price effects, and vehicle warranty implications.

Kejriwal's characterisation of the government's response as abusive and arrogant is a direct escalation of that critique. By framing the dispute as one between 'every common person' and an intolerant administration, he is deploying the party's signature populist register against a national policy.

Stakeholders and Impact

The ethanol debate touches multiple constituencies: vehicle owners concerned about engine wear and mileage on blended fuel; sugarcane farmers who benefit from ethanol procurement prices; and oil marketing companies navigating blending mandates and supply logistics. Petrol pump operators and independent service-station mechanics occupy a front-line position, often fielding consumer complaints about fuel quality and performance.

Kejriwal's planned field visit — meeting citizens at pumps and garages — is designed to surface these ground-level grievances and give them political visibility. The move also puts pressure on the government to respond substantively rather than dismissing critics.

What's Next

Kejriwal has said he will share the feedback he collects directly with the public, suggesting a follow-up post or press interaction is imminent. Broader watchpoints include parliamentary committee deliberations on blending targets, any government clarification on vehicle compatibility and warranty protections under E20, and whether other opposition leaders amplify the consumer-grievance angle. How the central government responds to Kejriwal's 'arrogance' charge will shape the next phase of this debate.