Daijiworld Media Network - Panjim

Panjim, Aug 26: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday called on Goans to defeat the BJP in the upcoming Goa and Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, claiming that this was the only way to get the compulsory rollout of E20 petrol cancelled.

Addressing a townhall in Panjim against the E20 fuel policy, Kejriwal said, "If BJP loses on March 10, then by March 15 the E20 fuel policy will be withdrawn." He added that he would quit politics if his prediction did not come true.

Kejriwal claimed that 87 per cent of Goans are already affected by the policy and urged people to unite against E20 fuel.

The townhall, held at a hotel in Miramar, was attended by AAP's two MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, State president Valmiki Naik and other party leaders.

Several citizens from across Goa shared their experiences with E20 fuel at the event. A motorcycle rider said his bike frequently stalls and gives poor mileage, while a Swiggy delivery partner said he works 15 to 18 hours a day but spends a significant portion of his earnings on fuel.

A mechanical engineer from Benaulim claimed that he had observed throttle body damage and white powder deposits in superbikes. Another vehicle owner reported a 30 per cent decline in mileage, damage to rubber components and fuel leakage.

Kejriwal said Goa has been disproportionately affected because 87 per cent of families in the state own two-wheelers and 47 per cent own cars, figures he said are significantly higher than the national average.

He accused the BJP government of misleading people by claiming that E20 petrol had not yet been introduced, saying the fuel was rolled out across Goa from April 1.

Kejriwal also alleged that automobile manufacturers had privately acknowledged that E20 fuel was unsafe for vehicles manufactured before 2023, but were allegedly silenced through threats. He referred to a withdrawn study by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), which he claimed had highlighted risks associated with E20 and was retracted after pressure from the Centre.

He further linked the E20 policy to rising sugar prices, alleging that the diversion of sugarcane towards ethanol production had contributed to a rise of Rs 30 per kg in sugar prices within a month.

Kejriwal alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was acting under pressure from US President Donald Trump to purchase ethanol from the United States. He warned that higher ethanol blends, including E40 and E100, could eventually be introduced, potentially worsening the impact on vehicles and livelihoods.

"The Government will not stop unless people raise their voice against E20 unitedly. The arrogance of BJP needs to be brought down. Goans need to make BJP lose," Kejriwal said, urging people across the state to unite against the E20 fuel policy.