Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Rahul Gandhi Slams E20 Policy; 2005 Aiyar Clip Raises Questions
There is a type of car fuel called E20, which means the petrol has a little bit of alcohol made from plants mixed into it.
Some people think this fuel can hurt car engines and waste people's money.
Rahul Gandhi, a leader in the Congress party, said the government's E20 plan is a big problem.
He said it is damaging people's cars and scooters and taking money from them.
He promised that his party would speak about this issue a lot.
The government says mixing plant alcohol into fuel is good because it helps the environment and farmers and reduces oil from other countries.
After Rahul Gandhi spoke, someone shared an old video from 2005.
In the video, a Congress minister named Mani Shankar Aiyar was talking in Parliament about mixing ethanol with petrol.
That person asked Rahul Gandhi why his party was against E20 now when it supported ethanol before.
The old video is from many years ago, so it does not prove the Congress agreed to today's exact E20 policy.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday, August 7, raised concerns over the government's E20 fuel-blending policy, alleging it harms vehicles and causes financial losses to consumers.
In a video shared on his official X handle, Gandhi called E20 a 'very big issue' and said the Congress would take it up 'in a massive way'.
Gandhi claimed the policy is 'destroying people's cars, destroying people's scooters, destroying people's lives and literally is stealing directly from them'.
A commenter shared a Parliament video from August 11, 2005, in which former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar purportedly said ethanol blending with petrol would be made mandatory.
E20 refers to petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol, promoted by the government to reduce crude oil imports, lower emissions, and support domestic agriculture.
- Who
- Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who criticized the policy, and former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, featured in a 2005 Parliament clip about ethanol blending.
- What
- Rahul Gandhi raised concerns over the government's E20 ethanol-blending policy, alleging vehicle damage and financial losses to consumers.
- When
- Friday, August 7, with the cited Aiyar clip recorded in Parliament on August 11, 2005.
- Where
- India; Gandhi's remarks were shared in a video on his official X handle, and the Aiyar clip was from Parliament.
- Why
- Gandhi says the E20 policy is destroying people's cars, scooters, and lives and 'literally is stealing directly from them'.
Critics of E20 (Rahul Gandhi / Congress)
Supporters of E20 (Government rationale)
E20 Policy Impact
Critics of E20 (Rahul Gandhi / Congress)
Gandhi alleges the increased use of ethanol-blended petrol is adversely affecting vehicles, causing financial losses, and 'destroying people's cars, scooters, and lives'.
Supporters of E20 (Government rationale)
The government has promoted ethanol blending to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, lower emissions, and provide an additional market for domestic agricultural produce.
Party Consistency on Ethanol
Critics of E20 (Rahul Gandhi / Congress)
Gandhi criticizes the current E20 policy and says Congress will take up the issue 'in a massive way'; the 2005 Aiyar clip predates the present E20 rollout.
Supporters of E20 (Government rationale)
Commenters point to the 2005 Parliament clip showing Congress minister Mani Shankar Aiyar advocating mandatory ethanol blending, asking how the party's position then matches its stance now.
- Politician
- Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP
- Policy Criticized
- E20 fuel-blending (petrol blended with up to 20% ethanol)
- Date of Remarks
- Friday, August 7
- Platform
- Video shared on Rahul Gandhi's official X handle
- 2005 Clip
- Mani Shankar Aiyar in Parliament on August 11, 2005, speaking on ethanol blending with petrol
- Government Rationale
- Reduce dependence on imported crude oil, lower emissions, provide a market for domestic agricultural produce
- Gandhi's Claim
- E20 is destroying cars, scooters, and lives and 'stealing directly from' consumers