‘We Will Present Six’: Protesters Accept Gadkari’s Challenge Over E20 Fuel Damage Claims

The public debate surrounding India’s mandatory E20 petrol rollout has taken a highly confrontational turn. After Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari publicly dismissed vehicle damage claims as "false narratives" and dared critics to bring him even a single proven victim, protesters have officially accepted the challenge.

Led by activist and entrepreneur Tehseen Poonawalla under the banner of Team Bharat, the group announced that they have identified six vehicle owners whose cars suffered severe fuel-system damage due to the 20% ethanol blend. However, a fresh standoff has emerged over how and where this meeting will actually take place.

The Standoff Over a Live-Streamed Confrontation

The protesters initially planned to march directly to the union minister's residence with the affected car owners. They claim, however, that the Delhi Police intervened and restricted them from approaching the property.

In a direct video response to the minister, Poonawalla issued a counter-challenge:

"Sir, you are the one who gave this challenge, but we cannot meet you? Either Delhi Police should arrange a meeting with you, or you should give us an appointment. But we have only one condition — that any appointment or conversation or discussion should be in front of the media and live-streamed."

The protesters argue that an open, public verification is the only way to settle the dispute transparently, preventing the government from downplaying the mechanical issues faced by everyday motorists.

What Are the "Ethanol Victims" Claiming?

While the government maintains that E20 fuel undergoes years of rigorous, multi-kilometre manufacturer testing before approval, motorists on the ground paint a very different picture. During recent demonstrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, affected owners detailed specific, high-cost structural failures:

• Choked Fuel Systems: Drivers reported that the 20% ethanol mix causes severe clogging in fuel filters and leaves behind a residue that chokes the entire pipeline, causing vehicles to stall suddenly mid-drive.

• Corroded Rubber Parts: Because ethanol is highly corrosive to specific materials, owners of older, E10-compliant cars claim the fuel is actively disintegrating the rubber components and injectors within their fuel injection systems.

• Massive Efficiency Drops: While the Petroleum Ministry estimates a maximum 5% decline in mileage for older vehicles, some car owners at the protests documented real-world mileage drops exceeding 20%.

• Moisture Contamination: Protesters also pointed out that ethanol is highly hygroscopic—meaning it naturally attracts water. They argue that fuel station storage tanks in India aren't properly equipped to handle this, leading to moisture separation inside car fuel tanks.

The Alleged Conflict of Interest

The friction has also revived intense political scrutiny regarding the driving forces behind the biofuel policy. Protesters have openly criticised the mandate, arguing that the middle class is being forced to shoulder expensive repair bills and reduced efficiency just to artificially support the domestic sugar and ethanol manufacturing lobby.

Minister Gadkari has vehemently denied these claims, stating that his family's long-standing sugar business has a completely negligible stake in the country's overall ethanol production. He insists the policy is purely macroeconomic, designed to save a portion of India's massive fuel import bill while funnelling money back into the pockets of local corn and sugarcane farmers.

With the protesters refusing to back down and demanding a public, live-streamed audit of the damaged vehicles, the ball is now in the ministry's court to see if an official media-facing appointment will be granted.