Tehseen Poonawalla's Instagram Suspended Ahead of Planned E20 Fuel Protest in Delhi

A fresh controversy has erupted over India's E20 fuel policy after social activist and industrialist Tehseen Poonawalla claimed that his Instagram account was suspended just a day before a planned protest march against the government's ethanol-blended petrol initiative.

Poonawalla has been one of the most vocal critics of the E20 policy, which mandates petrol blended with 20% ethanol. He had announced a "Car March" on July 31, inviting citizens to join a rally from India Gate to Parliament Street in New Delhi to oppose the policy and demand that consumers continue to have the option of purchasing regular petrol.

However, ahead of the scheduled demonstration, Poonawalla's official Instagram account was suspended. While Instagram has not publicly explained the reason for the suspension, the timing has sparked widespread debate on social media. His supporters have alleged that the move was intended to disrupt the growing campaign against E20 fuel.

Reacting to the suspension, Poonawalla posted on X, saying:

"My Instagram account @tehseenpoonawalla has been suspended. This government is now afraid of Instagram too. Those who know me know that I am a civil person. I always speak with facts and logic and never use abusive language."

The campaign against E20 fuel has also gained traction online through a social media initiative called "E20 Janata Party." Although it is not a registered political party, the group describes itself as a platform representing the concerns of ordinary citizens. The campaign has drawn comparisons with the satirical "Cockroach Janata Party," which gained attention during recent protests over the NEET examination. Another social media account using a similar name was also reportedly suspended.

Meanwhile, several transport associations in Delhi have announced their support for protests against the E20 policy. They argue that E20 fuel could reduce mileage and potentially affect the performance of older vehicles. The government, however, has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining that E20 is safe for compatible vehicles and offers significant environmental and economic benefits.

According to the Centre, increasing ethanol blending will help reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil, lower emissions, and boost farmers' incomes by creating greater demand for ethanol production. The government has also clarified that there are no immediate plans to increase ethanol blending beyond the current 20%.

As public debate over E20 fuel continues to grow, the suspension of Poonawalla's Instagram account has added a new political and social dimension to an already contentious issue.

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