Rahul Gandhi opens car’s fuel tank, questions E20 policy:Says it is damaging cars and scooters; ‘The whole thing is rotten’

Rahul Gandhi posted a video on X on Friday questioning E20 petrol. The video was around 53 seconds long. In the video, Rahul is seen opening the petrol tank of a car. He lifted the cover, looked inside and said, “Normally, we say there is something wrong, but here the whole thing is rotten.” He said there is a long list of corruption in the country at present, and the E20 fuel issue is one of them. He claimed that it is damaging people’s cars and scooters. He said this is affecting people’s lives and also directly taking money out of their pockets. Watch Rahul’s full video below… Government says some people are creating unnecessary controversy over E20 Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in Delhi on Friday that India’s biofuel blending programme is working very well and has produced good results. He said some people are trying to create unnecessary controversy over E20. The Indian government has also made it clear that the ethanol mixed with petrol is sourced entirely from domestic sources. In a press note issued on August 6, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry rejected reports that India was planning to import large quantities of ethanol from the US. Recently, some media reports claimed that India was considering buying US ethanol for its fuel blending programme. Why is E20 petrol facing opposition in India? There is opposition to E20, a fuel blend containing 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. Owners of petrol vehicles made before 2023 are particularly concerned. They claim that using this fuel is reducing vehicle mileage, increasing maintenance costs and causing engine parts to wear out more quickly. AAP to launch nationwide campaign against E20 fuel The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold town hall meetings across the country to oppose E20 fuel. The party announced on Friday that the campaign will begin on August 8. The aim is to speak to vehicle owners and collect feedback about problems linked to ethanol-blended petrol. According to the party, the campaign will begin in West Bengal on August 8. Events will then be held in Gujarat and Haryana on August 9, Telangana on August 11 and Chhattisgarh on August 17. Why did the Indian government introduce ethanol? 3 reasons The Indian government set a target of mixing 20% ethanol with petrol (E20) mainly to strengthen the country’s energy security and reduce its dependence on imported crude oil. Saving foreign currency: India imports most of the crude oil it needs, which requires a large amount of foreign currency. Producing ethanol domestically can help reduce the country’s oil import bill. Increasing farmers’ income: Ethanol is mainly made from sugarcane, maize and other agricultural products, giving farmers additional opportunities to earn income. Reducing environmental damage: Ethanol is a cleaner fuel, and its use can help reduce carbon emissions and pollution. Brazil leads in ethanol use; what can India learn Brazil has been a global leader in the use of ethanol. India has used Brazil’s experience as a reference. Gradual change: Brazil took decades to increase the use of ethanol. After the oil crisis in the 1970s, it gradually developed its infrastructure and adapted vehicles to use ethanol. Special vehicles: Most vehicles in Brazil can run on both petrol and ethanol. Cheaper fuel: Ethanol is often cheaper than petrol in Brazil, so people are more likely to choose it. Lesson for India: Before increasing the use of ethanol, India needs to ensure that vehicles are ready, carry out the necessary tests and build public confidence. ​