BJP MP Janardan Mishra defended the Indian government's ethanol-petrol blending policy during an event in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
The defense comes as the government pushes the E20 policy, which blends 20% ethanol with 80% petrol [1], to reduce the nation's heavy dependence on foreign energy sources.
Speaking during the inauguration of new flight services to Bhopal and Kolkata, Mishra addressed critics who argued that ethanol blending would not be effective. He highlighted the precarious nature of India's energy security by stating that the country produces only around 20% of the crude oil it consumes [2].
Mishra said the remaining 80% of crude oil is imported [3]. He questioned the feasibility of avoiding blended fuels given these domestic production limits.
"If there's no pure petrol in the country, where will it come from?" Mishra said [4].
He further challenged critics with a rhetorical question regarding the availability of unblended fuel. "Will pure petrol come from your father's house?" Mishra said [5].
The E20 initiative is a central pillar of India's strategy to lower its import bill and support domestic farmers who provide the feedstock for ethanol production. By increasing the blend ratio, the government aims to decrease the volume of crude oil required from international markets, a move intended to stabilize fuel prices and reduce carbon emissions.
Mishra's remarks underscore the tension between government policy goals and public or technical skepticism regarding the performance of blended fuels in older vehicle engines. However, the MP maintained that the transition is a necessity based on the current reality of India's oil reserves [2].
“"Will pure petrol come from your father's house?"”
The rhetoric used by MP Janardan Mishra reflects the Indian government's urgency to decouple its economy from volatile global oil markets. By emphasizing the 80% import dependency, the administration is framing ethanol blending not merely as an environmental choice, but as a matter of national economic security and sovereignty.
