PANAJI
Responding to mounting negative feedback from vehicle owners, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has announced a townhall in Goa against the compulsory rollout of E20 petrol.
The townhall will be held on August 25 at 3 pm at Vivanta Miramar, the party said.
The announcement follows the first national townhall Kejriwal held in Delhi earlier this month, which drew participation from over seven lakh citizens and vehicle owners across India who shared experiences of reduced mileage, carburettor damage and high repair costs linked to E20 fuel.
AAP has consistently raised the issue with State unit President Valmiki Naik and other party leaders visiting petrol pumps across the State, speaking to students on two-wheelers, private vehicle owners and bike taxi pilots.
Their complaints ranged from engine trouble to dropped mileage, with pilots particularly reporting financial strain due to higher fuel consumption and repeated repairs, the party said.
Kejriwal, during his earlier visit in early August had highlighted Goa’s high vehicle ownership and density, claiming nearly 85–90 per cent of Goans will be directly affected by the forced E20 rollout.
“On August 25, if every Goan raises their voice together, the Modi government will be forced to listen,” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal has already formally demanded that the Centre give consumers a choice between pure petrol and E20, arguing that E20, which delivers lower mileage and calorific value, be sold at a significantly reduced price.
The Goa townhall is aimed at providing a platform for citizens to share grievances and rally support against the Centre's E20 fuel policy even as the Kejriwal-led party hopes to make it a key political flashpoint.
