Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal has made a sensational announcement. Opposing the E20 petrol policy implemented by the Central Government, he declared that he would lead a rally to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence next Tuesday (August 4), carrying printouts of petitions signed by over two lakh citizens. He stated that he would go to the Prime Minister’s residence accompanied by a hundred people who are “not afraid of lathis.”
Kejriwal made this announcement at the “National Townhall Against E20” event held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. Linking the 20 percent ethanol-blended fuel policy to the recent India-US trade agreement, he alleged that the policy was being imposed solely to appease the United States. Meanwhile, AAP leaders said there was a heavy deployment of the Rapid Action Force, CRPF, and Delhi Police outside the townhall venue.
He recalled that large-scale protests had recently taken place in Delhi over the NEET-UG paper leak issue, and that following the police lathi-charge on protesters on July 20, massive crowds gathered, ultimately forcing Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign.
Kejriwal said that people had also participated in large numbers virtually in the event, and that the online petition launched a few days ago had already collected over two lakh signatures. “I have taken printouts of them. On Tuesday, August 4, in the afternoon, I will personally go to the Prime Minister’s residence to hand over all these petitions. Not everyone needs to come. I will take 100 people with me who are not afraid of lathis,” he said, inviting volunteers who wish to participate in the march to tag him.
Kejriwal dismissed the argument that the policy was introduced to benefit Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s family. He alleged that the real reason behind it was the recent agreement under which India is to purchase $100 billion worth of American goods over five years, claiming that the policy was being forcibly imposed on India merely to create a market for ethanol produced in the US.