Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Puri Meets Team Bharat Ahead of E20 Protest
The Indian government’s petroleum minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, met with a group called Team Bharat on Wednesday.
The group, led by activist Tehseen Poonawalla, is upset about the quick launch of a new fuel that mixes 20% ethanol.
The next day, Poonawalla was taken by police and his Instagram was shut down.
The protest was supposed to happen on Friday, but the detention made the group sad.
The meeting shows the government wants to handle protests better this time.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri met Team Bharat representatives on Wednesday.
Team Bharat, led by activist Tehseen Poonawalla, protests the rushed rollout of the E20 ethanol‑blended petrol program.
Poonawalla was detained by Delhi Police the following day and his Instagram account was suspended.
The protest was scheduled for Friday, but the detention dampened the group's morale.
Puri’s meeting signals the government’s intent to avoid repeating past protest mishaps.
- Who
- Hardeep Singh Puri and Tehseen Poonawalla
- What
- Meeting and subsequent detention over the E20 rollout
- When
- Wednesday and Thursday
- Where
- New Delhi
- Why
- To address backlash and avoid repeating past protest mishaps
- Minister
- Hardeep Singh Puri
- Activist
- Tehseen Poonawalla
- Program
- Ethanol‑Blended Petrol
- Event
- Team Bharat protest
- Meeting Date
- Wednesday
- Detention Date
- Thursday