Nagpur: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest in Nagpur on Tuesday against the Central Government’s policy of increasing ethanol blending in petrol. Party workers attempted to march towards the residence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in the Mahal area but were stopped by police and taken into custody.
A large number of AAP workers gathered near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, located around 150 metres from Gadkari’s residence. Anticipating the protest, police had deployed heavy security in the area. As the demonstrators raised slogans and tried to proceed towards the minister’s residence, police intervened and prevented them from moving forward.
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During the protest, AAP leaders strongly opposed the Centre’s ethanol blending policy. State organiser Bhushan Dhakulkar clarified that the demonstration was not against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari personally, but against the government’s decision to make ethanol-blended petrol mandatory.
The protest briefly affected traffic movement in the busy Mahal market area, causing inconvenience to commuters and shoppers. Police managed both traffic regulation and crowd control before detaining the protesters and restoring normalcy.
The Centre’s E20 fuel policy, which promotes 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol, has faced opposition from some vehicle owners’ associations. Critics claim that vehicles manufactured before 2023 may experience engine-related issues, reduced fuel efficiency, and higher maintenance costs when using E20 fuel. Protesters reiterated their demand that consumers should also have the option to purchase ethanol-free petrol.
