Kerjiwal questioned whether the companies would compensate customers if E20 fuel caused damage to vehicle components.
NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday stepped up his attack on the Centre over its push for E20 ethanol-blended fuel, saying he would seek written assurances from leading automobile manufacturers that the fuel does not reduce vehicle mileage or damage engines.He also announced that he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to make E20 fuel optional amid what he described as growing public opposition.Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said he would write to Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar and Hero MotoCorp, claiming their public statements on E20 fuel were inconsistent with the guidance provided in their vehicle owner manuals.”I will write letters to all of them… I will tell them that your owner manual says one thing, but you are saying something else. Give in writing that if the mileage of your vehicle drops by more than 10 per cent, will you compensate the customer,” Kejriwal said.He also questioned whether the companies would compensate customers if E20 fuel caused damage to vehicle components.”If using E20 ethanol in your vehicle damages the vehicle or causes wear and tear, will you compensate for the replacement of those components?,” Kejriwal added. There was no immediate response from Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar or Hero MotoCorp. Continuing his criticism of the government’s ethanol policy, the AAP chief alleged that the Centre was misleading people by claiming India was not the first country to adopt ethanol-blended fuel. He also claimed that on July 3 the government had called representatives of six automobile manufacturers and asked them to reassure the public about the use of E20 fuel.”This is only half the truth. In those countries, the ethanol blend is generally below E10. Ordinary vehicles can use up to E10, but not beyond that,” he said.”On July 3, the central government reportedly called representatives of six automobile manufacturers and asked them to hold a press conference to tell the public that E20 fuel is perfectly fine. The six companies are Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar, Hero MotoCorp, Hyundai Motor, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company. They were reportedly told to address the media and reassure the public that E20 fuel is suitable for use,” Kejriwal alleged.He added, “Next week, I will write to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, why should the public suffer for your misadventure? Tell us who will pay the penalty if our mileage drops or our vehicles are damaged — your government or the company?”Kejriwal further urged Prime Minister Modi to agree to the public’s demand and give consumers the option to choose between different fuel blends.”With folded hands, I request Modi ji to agree to the demand of the public to give them an option -where all variants of fuel, be it E20, E10 or E0 -all are made available at petrol pumps at separate pricing,” he said.
