Kejriwal announces March to PM Modi’s residence over E20 fuel on Aug 4
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New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday demanded that the NDA government at the Centre give consumers the option to choose between pure petrol and E20 fuel at petrol pumps, and announced that he would march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on August 4 to submit petitions signed by citizens.
Addressing the National Townhall Against E20, Kejriwal said more than two lakh people had signed an online petition addressed to the Prime Minister and that he had taken printouts of all the signatures.
"A few days ago, I appealed to people to sign a petition addressed to the Prime Minister. More than 2 lakh people have signed the petition online. I have taken printouts of all those signatures. On Tuesday, the 4th, at 12 noon, I will personally take those petitions and march towards the Prime Minister's residence to submit them," Kejriwal said.
He said he would take 100 people with him for the march, adding that those who wished to join could contact or tag him.
"Not everyone needs to come. I will take 100 people with me who are not afraid of lathis and not afraid of going to jail. Whoever wants to join should write to me and tag me. We will take 100 people along, march towards the Prime Minister's residence, and then see what happens after that," he said.
Reacting to his proposed march on August 4 to submit the citizens' petition seeking changes to the Centre's E20 fuel policy, Kejriwal said, "As far as they (Congress leaders) were allowed to go, I hope we will also be allowed to go that far. More than 2 lakh people have signed the petition."
Speaking about the turnout at the event, Kejriwal claimed the venue was packed, with people standing inside and outside and screens installed outside for those unable to enter the hall. He also claimed that more than four lakh people were watching the programme online.
Claiming that the government was closely monitoring the event, Kejriwal said, "I have full confidence that today the government is also watching this programme. Whenever their ministers come, they say E20 is safe. E20 has no problem. Those who raise their voice against E20 are anti-national. I want to tell them, today we kept so many testimonies in front of you. Today we kept so many proofs."
Kejriwal said the concerns raised during the event showed the extent of public anxiety over the issue. He said people had put forward three demands: consumers should have the choice to buy either E20 or pure petrol at petrol pumps; E20 fuel should be priced lower than pure petrol; and petrol prices should be reduced below Rs 84, citing the decline in crude oil prices.
"With this we get to know that how people are worried with this issues. Today, people have raised three demands, there should be choice at petrol pumps for people. Whosoever wants E20 can have it, or if other wants to have pure petrol, they can have it. Second demand, they said that the cost of E20 should be less than pure petrol, third, when the crude oil price has decreased, now the petrol price should be less than Rs 84," he said.
With IANS inputs
