Arvind Kejriwal urges Rs 82 per litre petrol and lower E20 fuel prices in India

Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal demanded that pure petrol be sold at Rs 82 per litre and the ethanol‑blended E20 fuel at Rs 70, arguing the current Rs 102 price inflates consumer costs and fuels inflation. He announced a press conference at 4 p.m. on July 9 to elaborate on the pricing issue.

Kejriwal also wrote to 29 automobile manufacturers seeking written clarification on whether E20‑blended petrol is safe for vehicles built before 2023. He asked if the fuel reduces mileage by 4‑5 % without damaging engines and whether manufacturers would compensate consumers for any excess loss or component damage. The letters reference earlier government statements that E20 is safe for older vehicles, despite owner‑manual warnings against ethanol blends above 10 %.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri earlier said price cuts would become a “legitimate question” only if global crude prices stay low, noting oil marketing companies have absorbed losses of roughly Rs 74,781 crore from selling fuel below cost. He defended the ethanol‑blending programme, saying any minor mileage drop is outweighed by performance gains.