NEW DELHI: Team Bharat, a citizens’ initiative, is all set to organise a road rally in the national capital on July 31 to raise concerns regarding the implementation of the E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy of the central government. They have called for greater consumer choice in fuel options.
Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla, in a video, stated that the proposed ‘Gaadi March’ will kickstart from India Gate on July 31 and then proceed on a route passing by the offices and residences of Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri before concluding at the Parliament Street.
“On July 31, Team Bharat is organising a Gaadi March under the theme, ‘Aapki gaadi, aapkaadhikar’. We are going to go from India Gate to Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri’s residence and offices. From there, we are going to march towards Parliament Street without vehicles. The right to fuel for our tax-paid vehicles is our fundamental right,” Poonawalla said.
He further highlighted that government records show that “absolutely refined petrol with all taxes and dealer commission paid cost the central government around ₹60 per litre.”
“On the other hand, it cost about ₹70-72 a litre to procure ethanol. So, ethanol is more expensive than petrol. Then why is the government forcefully blending ‘more expensive’ ethanol in our cars with petrol, which is cheaper,” he asked.
He added, “Secondly, pure petrol that currently is available in retail for about ₹165-170 a litre costs the government not more than ₹60 per litre. Even if we add 30 per cent tax to it, that takes it to around ₹78 per litre. If we add ₹5 more towards contingency, then also it should not cost more than ₹85-90 a litre.”
Through the ‘Gaadi March,’ Poonawalla stated that Team Bharat is demanding Nitin Gadkari’s resignation, adding that “he must be held accountable”.
“There is no way he can stay in this position,” he said.
Notably, the rally on July 31 is not against the ethanol blending policy and demands greater transparency and consumer choice for vehicle owners in the country.
They have demanded the availability of E10 petrol for vehicles manufactured to run on E10 fuel, a reduction in the price of petrol (without ethanol blending) as well as the disclosure of documents related to the E20 policy.
Agencies