Police asking us to limit E20 protest, we'll expose govt lies: Tehseen Poonawalla
A day ahead of the first protest against the "rushed implementation" of the Central government's E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy, organisers of the demonstration claimed that
A day ahead of the first protest against the "rushed implementation" of the Central government's E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy, organisers of the demonstration claimed that the Delhi Police had verbally permitted them to hold the agitation at Jantar Mantar but asked them to limit the number of protesters to 200. Leading the protest scheduled for 2 pm on Sunday under the banner "Team Bharat against Ethanol scam", entrepreneur and TV personality Tehseen Poonawalla criticised the conditions imposed by Delhi Police and told India Today Digital that the demonstration would go ahead regardless of any restrictions. Read Full Story Poonawalla also said that he would be addressing a press conference on Sunday and expose the "sham press conference" held on Saturday by auto experts defending the government's ethanol policy. "We have got the permission verbally from Delhi Police. Strangely, Delhi Police has asked us to limit the number of protesters to 200 only. I don't know how a police force in a democracy can dictate to citizens that a protest must be limited," Poonawalla told India Today Digital. Other members of Team Bharat told India Today Digital that the protest wasn't against the ethanol-blending policy but against its implementation and how car owners were being left without choice. Poonawalla also warned of a stir outside Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's house if the Delhi Police resort to any "funny act" to try and "stop the protest". "In any case, we are protesting at Jantar Mantar irrespective of what the police say. We don't care. If they don't allow us to protest or act funny, we will sit in front of Nitin Gadkari's house," he said. Though Nitin Gadkari is the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, he is seen as the face of the government's ethanol-blended fuel campaign because of his support for ethanol-blended petrol.
AUTO EXPERTS PRESS CONFERENCE ON ETHANOL A SHAM, POONAWALLA HITS OUT Tehseen Poonawalla also launched a sharp attack on Saturday's government-backed press conference helmed by automobile and energy experts in defence of the ethanol-blending programme, calling it "ridiculous" and a "sham". After the press conference of auto experts, former Engineers India Limited (EIL) Chairperson and Managing Director, Vartika Shukla, who was part of the briefing, told news agency ANI that the E20 fuel launched on December 25 was a part of the "One Nation, One Fuel" initiative and, it was initially introduced in select regions before reaching every retail outlet. Poonawalla sharply criticised this statement of Shukla and questioned her intent. "Imagine the lady [Vartika Shukla] saying the country is aiming at 'One Nation, One Fuel'. What is she even talking about? The Maruti executive in the press briefing said that E10 cars are compatible with E20 petrol. My question is, if the cars are compatible with E20 petrol, then why do the instruction manuals state otherwise?" Poonwalla said, speaking to India Today Digital. "This sham of a press briefing will also be exposed by us. We will hold a press conference on Sunday and expose the reality," he added. CITIZENS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE FUEL COMPATIBLE TO THEIR VEHICLES: TEAM BHARAT MEMBER Dinesh Tantia, member of Team Bharat, told India Today Digital that the protest was not against ethanol itself but against the lack of fuel choice for consumers. "Our demand is fuel compatibility. The fuel that suits a car should be the fuel its owner has the right to use. The government often cites Brazil and the US as examples, but consumers there have options. India also needs to provide that choice," Tantia said. "Build the required ecosystem first and then decide what fuel should be used.
The BriefWire