Dissent over India's ethanol blending in petrol has moved from social media to the streets, as the first protest against the E20 fuel mandate took place at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Led by TV personality and entrepreneur Tehseen Poonawalla, the small group of protesters voiced their concerns about E20 fuel—or 20 per cent ethanol blended with fuel—becoming the standard at petrol pumps across the country.
This comes after weeks of motorists venting online about not being able to choose the fuel that they could use for their vehicles.
They have also alleged that using the new E20 fuel reduced mileage and increased the wear-and-tear of vehicle parts.
In that regard, the E20 protesters have now made four demands, of which the most important one is to make E0, E5, E10, and E20 fuels available across the country, giving motorists the right to choose.
They have also urged that all documents pertaining to the E20 mandate be made public, that the government find a solution for pre-2023 vehicles allegedly damaged by E20 fuels, and to stop the rollout of E20 fuel on a nationwide scale without implementing the proper infrastructure for it.
'Our Vehicles, Our Rights', read one of the many slogans at the protest, while another read: 'You promised development, not damage ... Gadkari ji, stop E20".
However, Poonawalla also clarified that the protesters were not asking for the government to stop the use of E20 fuel at petrol pumps, but to offer all blends, so that people could choose what they wanted for their vehicles.
Motorists online have not only backed these demands over the past few weeks, but have also documented the alleged drops in mileage.
In one video on X with over 500,000 views, a motorist who identified himself as Manish Kashyap could be seen standing in a workshop with his car, alleging that it had been damaged by E20 fuel.
"I have spent a lot of money on this car and paid taxes only to find that after two months my car is not working," an agitated Kashyap said.
"During the rain in Pune last year, the engine abruptly stalled, and I had to park the vehicle midway. The cost of running the bike has increased because it now requires more frequent maintenance visits," one motorist told Indian Express.
"I worry about the impact on my car beyond E20 blends ... The government must tell how to manage vehicles that were purchased just 5-10 years ago," said another, referring to the Centre's push for E25 petrol as well.
Though the E20 mandate was introduced last year, it grew into a wider issue amid the war in the Gulf, which put the squeeze on global energy flows.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani's comment at a court hearing, in which he called the rollout an "experiment", further intensified backlash against the programme.
The Centre, however, continues to defend the fuel blending programme, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) releasing a detailed note on July 2 that refuted claims of E20 petrol leading to a drop in mileage.
"They use it in racing cars also, the acceleration increases. Mileage, yes, it may drop a little," petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri had admitted on July 2.
