New Delhi, July 10: Congress on Friday trained guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over a mandatory 20 per cent ethanol-blended fuel policy, as it said that a lot of false bravado, compromised facts have been dished out and asked government that has it listened to its own Niti Aayog and 2021 roadmap vis a vis material compatibility and E20 compliant engines.
Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala targeted the government and in a post on X, said, “Policy mismatch of E20 petrol and upcoming 15 per cent methanol for diesel blend.
Questioning the Prime Minister and Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Surjewala,.who is also a Rajya Sabha MP said, “Dear Prime Minister/Nitin Gadkari, a lot of false bravado, compromised facts & half-baked truths in name of factual information have been dished out by the BJP government about E20 Petrol Fuel blend.”
He pointed out that an interview of Nitin Gadkari in the newspaper today, Petroleum Ministry’s Press Releases of 23rd June-10th July (today) and a spate of sponsored Press Conferences “have ended up actually exposing the reality instead of confusing the people with the jargon that Modi government sought to put out”.
The Congress leader said, “I am placing below the genuine concerns of the People of India and the 360 Million (36 Crores) registered Vehicle Owners (Two/Three/Four-Wheelers). Niti Aayog 2021 Roadmap for ‘Ethanol Blending’ concedes that rubber and plastic components in existing Petrol Vehicles are not compatible with E20 Fuel blend and would require (i) Material Compatibility (ii) Engines tuned for E20.
He also said that Niti Aayog 2021 Roadmap also says that we should roll out E20 material compliant vehicles from April 2023 and E20 Engine compliant vehicles from April 2025.
During salvos at the government, he said, “The first question is – has government of India listened to its own Niti Aayog and 2021 Roadmap vis a vis material compatibility and E20 compliant engines? If not, why?”
He said that the widely written about ‘Automotive Research Association of India’ (ARAI) Report, (though unpublished for obvious reasons) clearly states that E20 rapidly deteriorates rubber fuel system components, including hoses, gaskets, seals, and O-rings.
“Gadkari has also conceded this fact,” he said, adding, “Second question is – why is the Modi government, then, pushing through E20 Fuel blend in Petrol, without ensuring that each one of the 360 Million vehicles is ‘materially compliant’ and ‘engine compliant’ for use and consumption of E20 Petrol, at the cost and expense of the government?”
Surjewala also pointed out that it is an admitted fact that E20 Petrol fuel blend leads to the dropping of the average mileage of vehicles and “Gadkari has admitted it in his interview today”.
“Even Govt of India admits to a 5 per cent drop in Fuel mileage. In reality, the drop in Fuel mileage is over 15 per cent as reported by actual users,” he said.
Posing another question to the government, he asked, “Why is the Modi government not clearly stating the impact on Fuel average and its percentage by use of E20 Petrol Fuel blend? Is it not correct that the loss of Fuel Mileage is even higher in local city driving conditions?”
The congress.leader also said that E20 Petrol Fuel blend requires ‘Flex Engine Technology’ and this has been conceded by none less than the Union Minister Gadkari in his interview.
He asked another question, “What happens to nearly 360 Million (36 crore) vehicle owners, whose vehicles are not compliant with Flex Engine Technology?”
Surjewala then pointed out that the price of ethanol is Rs 75 per liter, as per Gadkari while the price of petrol in Delhi today is Rs 102.12 per liter and it crosses Rs 110 per liter in many states.
“Once the E20 Petrol Fuel blend is 80 per cent Petrol and 20 per cent Ethanol, why is the price of E20 Petrol, then, not 20 per cent cheaper for the common man? Why is Modi government mixing Ethanol priced at Rs 75 per liter and selling it at Rs 102 per liter?” Surjewala questioned
He also said that the Union government and Gadkari are now speaking about 15 per xent Methanol-Diesel blend based on ongoing production of 700 tonnes of methanol by Assam Petro Refinery at the cost of Rs 20-22 per liter.
“Is Modi government going to push through 15 per cent Methanol-Diesel Fuel blend for all Diesel Vehicles?” the Congress leader asked.
He also stated that the Modi government is supplying Paddy (Rice) to ethanol plants at a subsidized price of Rs 2,320 per quintal from GOI’s food grains and asked, “Will excessive diversion of PDS Rice as also Sugarcane for manufacture of Ethanol not lead to an impact on our food security?”
The Congress leader then stated that 20 per cent blending of Ethanol has started in 2025-26 (November 2025 to June 2026) as per ‘National Policy on Bio-Fuels – 2018’ and asked “Why did Modi government not take into account all the above concerns?”
Surjewala said that nation and 36 crore vehicle owners require serious answers and not PIB press releases.
Even the Indian Youth Congress staged a protest on the government’s E20 ethanol blended fuel policy.
On this occasion, several Youth Congress workers, led by Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress President Akshay Lakra, protested against the central government’s E20 ethanol blending policy.
Lakra stated that the people of the country know ethanol is just an excuse and Gadkari ji’s sole aim is to benefit his son.
He said that when ethanol blending was promoted, it was claimed that fuel would become cheaper and consumers would reap the benefits; however, today, ethanol-blended petrol is available at roughly the same price as regular petrol. If ethanol blending has reduced costs, why haven’t the benefits reached the consumers? Millions of people across the country are worried about their vehicle engines, rising maintenance costs, and additional expenses, yet the government is focused on benefiting its own people.
Lakra further remarked that the use of E20 would increase maintenance requirements for the engines of millions of vehicles—a matter of concern for the public—yet the Central Government is imposing this policy on them instead of listening to their voices. Demanding action from the government, he stated that the common man’s vehicle is not a laboratory, and the government must shut down this experiment immediately.
The government has been facing ire of the motorists over its decision to increase the share of biofuels blended with petrol is facing ire, as vehicle owners are questioning its viability in a market where a majority of vehicles are not yet designed for it.
Many vehicle owners are demanding choice of selecting fuel for their vehicles.