Amid E20 Backlash, Kejriwal Launches Campaign as Gadkari Prepares Legal Action Over Deepfakes

A political debate over India’s E20 ethanol-blended fuel policy has intensified after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal launched a nationwide campaign against the initiative, while Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari prepared legal action against social media companies over alleged deepfake videos. The controversy has gained momentum following online campaigns and protests that emerged after the recent resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Gadkari has received permission from the Bombay High Court to file a civil suit against major platforms, including Meta, X, and Google, alleging that fabricated content falsely linked him and his family to personal financial gains from the government’s ethanol policy.

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AAP Plans Nationwide Town Hall While Gadkari Moves Court Against Social Media Platforms

Arvind Kejriwal announced that AAP will organize a National Town Hall this weekend to gather public opinion against E20 fuel and mobilize support for changes to the policy. He claimed that his party had already collected more than two lakh petitions from citizens and said he would submit them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week. Kejriwal argued that the government should address public concerns before the issue develops into a larger nationwide movement. The Town Hall will allow people from Delhi-NCR to participate in person, while others can join online through a registration process. Congress has also criticized the ethanol policy, alleging that it lacks sufficient scientific validation and may negatively affect millions of vehicle owners.

Meanwhile, social media has witnessed a surge of memes and online campaigns targeting Gadkari over E20. Several accounts using the name “E20 Janta Party” have attracted thousands of followers, although the group insists it is an independent citizens’ movement rather than a political organization. Activist Tehseen Poonawalla and other campaigners have also organized demonstrations demanding continued availability of E10 fuel, lower prices for pure petrol, and discounted rates for E20. Protest organizers have announced plans for additional marches in Delhi over the coming days, including demonstrations involving commercial and taxi vehicle owners.

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Government Defends Benefits of Ethanol-Blended Petrol

The central government has defended the ethanol blending programme, stating that it reduces India’s dependence on imported crude oil, lowers vehicle emissions, and provides additional income opportunities for farmers by using crops such as sugarcane, maize, and rice for ethanol production. Officials, including Gadkari and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, have repeatedly maintained that scientific studies have not established significant damage to compatible vehicles from E20 fuel, although authorities acknowledge that fuel efficiency may decrease slightly in some cases.

On the legal front, the Bombay High Court has allowed Gadkari to pursue a civil case seeking injunctions against allegedly defamatory posts and AI-generated deepfake videos circulating on social media. The case follows a complaint filed in Nagpur alleging that misleading content about Gadkari and the E20 programme could create public confusion and disturb social harmony. The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme, launched in 2014, achieved its target of 20% ethanol blending in 2025, earlier than originally planned. Gadkari has also stated that regular petrol remains available for consumers, although at a significantly higher price than E20 fuel.

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