The Delhi Police on Tuesday stopped Arvind Kejriwal, who was with 100 other people, from marching to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in an attempt to submit lakhs of petitions against E20 petrol.
Following this, Kejriwal told police that “we are not terrorists; we want to meet PM Modi over the E20 fuel issue. Kindly inform him that we want to meet.”
“I will go to the PM’s residence tomorrow along with 100 people to personally hand over the petitions signed by the public and discuss issues related to ethanol-blended petrol. People are facing several problems in their vehicles, and despite all that, the government is continuing with this, which means there is a hidden agenda,” Kejriwal said through a press conference.
Meanwhile, AAP Delhi Chief Saurabh Bhardwaj said that they want to discuss ethanol and have “lakhs of petitions” with them for the same.
“We have spoken to the police officers about the fact that people have come here with lakhs of petitions… We want to give the petition to the prime minister and want him to hold a discussion on ethanol. There should be a dialogue. Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter. We have repeatedly told the Prime Minister in press conferences,” Saurabh Bhardwaj said.
In line with this, Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and other AAP leaders staged a protest at Firoz Shah Road. The Delhi police, in the meantime, said that no permission was granted for the march.
“Neither Kejriwal nor the AAP sought any official permission for the march. As Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is in effect around the PM’s residence, no march will be permitted,” it said.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Tarun Chugh labeled it as a “meaningless campaign.”
“It is an absurd, meaningless campaign of his; there is no logic, no information. Everything has been done in a scientific manner. His behavior is against India’s farmers. Ethanol means protection for farmers,” the BJP MP said.
Ahead of the march in a video message, Kejriwal said PM Modi is purchasing significant quantities of US ethanol following pressure from President Donald Trump.
“They are doing this in servitude to Trump, and the common man’s vehicles are getting damaged as a result. Today, we are going to the Prime Minister’s residence with over two lakh petitions to request him not to do this. There are 100 such people with us whose vehicles have been damaged by E20. We hope that the Prime Minister ji will surely listen to the voice of the people,” he said.
Earlier than this, Rahul Gandhi led a march to the Prime Minister’s residence following the police crackdown against protesting students after the alleged NEET paper leak. Gandhi was forcibly removed from the spot and detained for a brief period of time.
