New Delhi: The political debate over E20 petrol intensified on Saturday, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticising Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his claim that ethanol-blended fuel is increasing the burden on vehicle owners.
Rahul Gandhi had posted a video on social media alleging that the government’s ethanol-blending policy was damaging scooters and other vehicles and imposing additional costs on consumers. Using the Hindi phrase, “daal mein kuchh kaala hai, magar yahan puri daal hi kaali hai”, he suggested that the issue went beyond an isolated incident.
He also said the Congress would raise the issue on a larger scale, alleging that the Union government was “destroying” vehicles and causing financial losses to people.
BJP Questions Rahul Gandhi’s E20 Claim
Responding to the video, BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh pointed out that the petrol tank shown by Rahul Gandhi in the video had “E20 Compatible” written on it.
Singh said Rahul Gandhi should verify the facts before releasing such videos. He also claimed that farmers were supporting E20 and argued that ethanol blending was important for reducing India’s dependence on imported fuel and conserving foreign exchange.
BJP leader Gourav Vallabh also criticised Gandhi, saying the Opposition leader should have noticed the E20 compatibility marking on the vehicle shown in the video.
Vallabh accused Gandhi of misleading people and said political debate should be based on facts.
Opposition Backs Rahul Gandhi
Opposition leaders, however, defended Rahul Gandhi and raised concerns over the impact of E20 fuel on vehicles.
Samajwadi Party MP Pushpendra Saroj said concerns about E20 were not limited to political parties and claimed that vehicle owners had reported problems after the introduction of higher ethanol blending.
Congress leader T.S. Singh Deo argued that consumers should have access to different fuel options, including petrol without ethanol, E10 and E20.
He said vehicles designed to run on E10 should be allowed to continue using E10 until E20-compatible vehicles become widely available.
Concerns Over Mileage and Older Vehicles
CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah also expressed concerns over the impact of 20 per cent ethanol blending on fuel quality, vehicle mileage and engine performance.
He said public concerns about E20 should be heard and addressed rather than dismissed.
The controversy comes amid a wider debate over India’s ethanol-blending programme, with the government highlighting its potential to reduce crude oil imports and conserve foreign exchange, while critics have raised questions about vehicle compatibility, mileage and the impact on older engines.
The latest exchange between the BJP and Opposition has added a political dimension to the ongoing discussion over E20 petrol and its impact on Indian motorists.
