Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and several senior party leaders were stopped by the Delhi Police on Tuesday while marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence to protest against the Centre's E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy. The march, which began from the AAP headquarters, was aimed at submitting a petition signed by nearly 2.5 lakh people seeking changes to the government's fuel policy.
Kejriwal had announced that he would lead a delegation of around 100 volunteers to personally hand over the petition after claiming that the Prime Minister's Office did not respond to his earlier request for a meeting. The AAP chief has demanded that consumers be given the choice between pure petrol and E20 fuel at petrol pumps, that E20 petrol be sold at a lower price than regular petrol, and that the price of pure petrol be reduced.
However, heavy security arrangements and police barricades prevented the protesters from moving towards the Prime Minister's residence. Kejriwal, along with senior leaders including Manish Sisodia, staged a sit-in protest on Firoz Shah Road after being stopped by the police. During the protest, Kejriwal questioned why a peaceful delegation carrying a public petition was being prevented from meeting the Prime Minister.
?️ Arvind Kejriwal:
— GFN (@GFNIND) August 4, 2026
We are going to hand over 2 lakh letters written by people against E20 fuel to PM Modi. I hope we won't be stopped.
PM's residence isn't your Nani Ghar.
It's a high-security government facility—not a place where just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can walk in. pic.twitter.com/BjVJQH7bNQ
The AAP has intensified its campaign against the Centre's ethanol-blending programme, alleging that E20 petrol reduces vehicle mileage and damages engines. Kejriwal has also accused the Centre of ignoring public concerns while pushing the policy. The Union government, however, has maintained that there is no verified evidence of widespread engine damage due to E20 fuel and says the programme helps reduce crude oil imports, lower emissions, and increase farmers' income.
The protest has further escalated the political confrontation over the ethanol-blending policy, with the BJP accusing Kejriwal of resorting to political theatrics, while the AAP insists it is raising the concerns of millions of vehicle owners across the country.
