Delhi Police block AAP's march to PM residence over E20 petrol

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Tuesday stopped AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders from marching to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, prompting the party to stage a sit-in protest on Firoz Shah Road.

Kejriwal, along with former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, AAP leader Jasmine Shah and several party workers, sat on the road after police prevented the group from proceeding further to submit more than 2.30 lakh petitions against E20. Police stopped the protesters near Firoz Shah Road and did not allow them to move towards the Prime Minister's residence.

"No one will be allowed ahead of 5, Firoz Shah Road. We have deployed adequate security, including Delhi Police and paramilitary forces, to maintain law and order," a police source said, as quoted by PTI.

Following the barricading, Kejriwal and other AAP leaders staged a sit-in protest on the road. The AAP had begun the march with around 100 supporters, carrying petitions collected from people across the country against the Centre's policy of promoting E20 petrol. The party has alleged that ethanol-blended fuel is adversely affecting vehicle owners.

Addressing supporters before the march, Kejriwal said the party wanted the government to hear the concerns of people affected by the policy.

"We are going to the Prime Minister's residence with over 2.30 lakh petitions signed by people from across the country. We want the government to listen to the concerns of crores of vehicle owners who are facing problems because of E20 petrol," he said.

"People are asking why the government is forcing E20 petrol despite complaints from vehicle owners. We only want people to have the choice of buying pure petrol and E20, and if E20 is being promoted, it should be sold at a lower price," he said.

AAP has been campaigning against E20 petrol in recent weeks, holding an "Ethanol Town Hall" and launching a nationwide signature campaign. Kejriwal had also written to PM Modi seeking an appointment to discuss concerns over ethanol-blended fuel.

BJP criticised Kejriwal's protest, accusing him of opposing the interests of farmers and trying to revive his political fortunes. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh described the protest as politically motivated.

"Arvind Kejriwal's march is absurd, irresponsible and meaningless. Everything has been done in a scientific manner. The process has been duly approved and no one has raised any complaint," Chugh told reporters in the Parliament House complex.

"Kejriwal's campaign is against India's farmers. You are trying to deprive farmers of their income, Kejriwal ji. Ethanol is produced from crops such as maize, sugarcane and other agricultural produce. Ethanol has been used in many countries around the world for several decades, and its use in India has also been implemented in a scientific manner," he said.

The BJP's response came after Kejriwal alleged that the Centre was continuing with the E20 policy despite public concerns and claimed the government was pushing ethanol-blended fuel under external pressure.