This comes weeks after the first such protest against E20 fuel—or 20 per cent ethanol blended with fuel—took place on July 5, after which the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) anti-NEET paper leak protests at Jantar Mantar dominated headlines.

This comes weeks after the first such protest against E20 fuel—or 20 per cent ethanol blended with fuel—took place on July 5, after which the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) anti-NEET paper leak protests at Jantar Mantar dominated headlines.

This comes weeks after the first such protest against E20 fuel—or 20 per cent ethanol blended with fuel—took place on July 5, after which the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) anti-NEET paper leak protests at Jantar Mantar dominated headlines.

The protest against the ethanol blending mandate (E20) is likely to return to the spotlight on Saturday with two protests by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Tehseen Poonawalla, a TV personality and entrepreneur.

This comes weeks after the first such protest against E20 fuel—or 20 per cent ethanol blended with fuel—took place on July 5, after which the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) anti-NEET paper leak protests at Jantar Mantar dominated headlines.

The first protest on Saturday is by Kejriwal, titled 'National Town Hall against E20', wil take place in Delhi, is scheduled to be held at the Constitution Club on August 1.

A 'town hall' is a public forum, in which people and leaders break down a particular issue as a form of voicing their opinions in protest.

Tomorrow, at the 'National Townhall against E20', a well-known personality from the country will be with me to listen to people’s problems and to take a 'decision' on E20," he announced in an X post, urging people to show up.

The AAP had also earlier launched an online petition to make E20 fuel optional, which, according to the party, has received nearly two lakh signatures.

He has also attempted to link the E20 protests to the success of the CJP protests, which got ex-Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to step down from his post, and led to the Centre announcing a number of education reforms.

"I now urge the Prime Minister to resolve the E20-blended petrol issue as well. People are facing serious problems. Their vehicles are getting damaged, and fuel mileage is declining," he had said on July 27.

The other key protest on Saturday is by Poonawalla, who announced he would be conducting a "solo walk" from the APJ Abdul Kalam Road to the Gandhi Smriti in Delhi at 10 AM.

Poonawalla also announced a silent protest and a hunger strike against the mandatory E20 policy, as well as in defence of the freedom of expression in India.

With both protests taking place less than 5km from each other, the area is expected to see a high turnout of motorists, experts, and other E20 protesters who have been opposing the lack of choice of the fuel that they could use for their vehicles.

The E20 protesters led by Poonawalla had earlier made four demands, of which the most important one was to make E0, E5, E10, and E20 fuels available across the country, giving motorists the right to choose.

They had 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 that the rollout of E20 fuel on a nationwide scale, without implementing the proper infrastructure for it, be stopped.

Nitin Gadkari continues to defend E20

Amid mounting criticism over E20 fuel, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari reiterated that the ethanol blending programme had been designed after careful consideration and testing with various stakeholders, such as automobile manufacturers, component manufacturers and testing agencies.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, he noted that the test for engine durability had not shown any failure due to E20.

"Tests covering parameters such as engine drivability, startability, corrosion resistance and material compatibility have confirmed that E20 is safe for use under prescribed standards,” his reply read.

However, he also admitted that the fuel efficiency of vehicles may be reduced by 2-6 per cent, depending on the vehicle category and vintage, but denied that any long-term changes could happen, citing manufacturer reports.

In that regard, Gadkari had also earlier challenged E20 naysayers to come forward if they faced issues after using E20 fuel, after which Poonawalla alleged that the Delhi Police was not allowing them to meet the minister.

"Sir, you are the one who gave this challenge, but we cannot meet you? Either Delhi Police should arrange a meeting with you, or you should give us an appointment ... (which) should be in front of the media and live-streamed. We will show you those people whose cars have problems," he had said.

However, the plea fell on deaf ears, as Gadkari later dismissed the E20 protests as "paid campaigns" and "false narratives".

All eyes are now on how Saturday's E20 protest will shape up, and if it can get the same support that the CJP protests did.

TAGS