Discussions about E20 gasoline in the country are once again hitting the streets. Tahin Punawala, who is opposed to E20, has announced a two-day protest and hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He shared this via the social network X, specifying that the Bharat team will organize a 'public court' on August 22nd and 23rd at Jantar Mantar, calling for a large number of people to join the action.
According to Tahin Punawala, the sit-in will begin on August 22nd at 11:00 at Jantar Mantar and will continue. Then, on August 23rd, a protest and hunger strike are also planned, starting at 11:00. He claims that over 5000 people can participate daily in the action, and the total number of demonstrators could reach 10,000.
As part of this protest, several demands are being made to the government regarding E20. Punawala's first demand is that E10 gasoline must be available for older cars that meet the E10 standard. He emphasizes that owners of older vehicles not adapted to E20 fuel need an alternative in the form of E10, as E20 negatively affects old cars by causing reduced fuel consumption and component damage.
Other demands include lowering the price of E0 gasoline, as well as requiring the public disclosure of all documents related to E20. Punawala insists that all information and necessary documents concerning this type of fuel must be accessible to the general public so that the picture of fuel policy becomes clear.
One of the most significant demands of the anti-E20 protest is the call for the removal of Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari from office. The list of demands from Punawala explicitly states that Nitin Gadkari must resign. At the end of his message, Tahin Punawala used the slogan 'Choice or Vote,' implying that if the people are not provided with an alternative in the form of low-ethanol gasoline, they will make it an election issue.
Thus, the protest scheduled for August 22nd and 23rd at Jantar Mantar may once again bring the discussion around E20 to the center of political and public debate. Previously, Arvind Kejriwal, former Chief Minister and AAP party coordinator, also held a march to the Prime Minister's House against E20 gasoline in Delhi, which was stopped on Feroz Shah Road.