Congress demands review of E20 policy, calls fuel rollout 'anti-people'

Meanwhile, the Congress on Friday demanded an immediate review of the E20 petrol policy, accusing the Modi administration of pursuing an "anti-people" fuel policy that has climbed household expenses while raising reservations over vehicle mileage and compatibility.

Key points

• He additionally cited increases in rice and maize flour costs of 16 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively, and noted animal feed costs had risen 10.34 per cent.
• Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh alleged that the diversion of sugarcane and grains for ethanol production had contributed to rising food rates.
• We demand an immediate review of the E20 policy and insist that the public be provided with non-ethanol fuel options.
• It has additionally maintained that ethanol producers are the principal beneficiaries of the policy.

While jaggery, rice and maize flour rates climbed by 24 per cent, 16 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively, citing a media report, he remarked sugar costs had risen 40 per cent in three months.

"Due to the Modi government's shortsighted and anti-people E20 policy, inflation is rising on one hand, while vehicle owners are forced to bear the brunt of reduced mileage and vehicle damage on the other, " Ramesh remarked in a post on X.

While additionally posing compatibility risks for vehicles not designed for E20 fuel, he remarked diverting sugarcane and grain towards producing ethanol for a 20 per cent blend with petrol was bound to create shortages.

Ramesh asserted that 25 lakh tonnes of sugar-grade sugarcane had been diverted for ethanol production, contributing to a rise in sugar costs from Rs 48 to Rs 67 per kg and jaggery rates from Rs 50 to Rs 65 per kg over the past three months.

"In a hasty move to maximize profits for cronies involved in ethanol production, vehicle owners have seen their fuel choices restricted, yet serious concerns regarding vehicle mileage and compatibility with E20 fuel persist, " Ramesh remarked.

Questioning the absence of a reduction in petrol rates despite lower international crude costs and savings from ethanol blending, he noted Rahul Gandhi had consistently triggered concern over alleged corruption surrounding the E20 policy.

Meanwhile, the Congress Working Committee. It met on Wednesday, had additionally flagged worries over reduced mileage, vehicle compatibility, consumer choice, fuel contamination and the environmental costs of diverting sugarcane and maize for ethanol production.

In practice, the party has repeatedly resisted the rollout of E20 petrol, alleging that it has restricted consumer choice, climbed fuel costs for middle-class households and posed risks to vehicles. It has additionally maintained that ethanol producers are the principal beneficiaries of the policy.

"We demand an immediate review of the E20 policy and insist that the public be provided with non-ethanol fuel options. An anti-people fuel policy that makes both vehicle operation and kitchen expenses costly is unacceptable to the country, " he asserted.

In short, congress demands review of E20 policy, calls fuel rollout ' anti is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.