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Southern India faces fuel ethanol blending controversy, post-Diwali air pollution, and political tensions in Kerala.
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00:00Our top story this evening is on the controversy around ethanol blending.
00:06We've seen this, of course, being a topic of conversation for the last many months across the country.
00:11In Karnataka, though, the government says they've conducted an eye-opening expose,
00:16in which they say that E20, what's sold as E20, is actually E31, 31.2% in some cases.
00:24The samples that they've picked up, they say, is what suggests that E20 is actually not E20.
00:31It's a lot more than that.
00:33It's triggered a big storm, including a reaction that's come in from these oil marketing firms
00:37who've refuted all of these allegations.
00:41Joining me on this broadcast today is the Food, Civil, Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister
00:46in the Karnataka government, Mr. Rizwan Ashad.
00:48Mr. Rizwan Ashad, good evening. Thank you for your time.
00:51I know you've been in the eye of the storm, so to say,
00:54because you revealed these revelations that your government has found.
00:58First of all, so just to set the base for this conversation,
01:01take us through how you conducted these particular tests,
01:05where you collected these samples from, what did you find?
01:12Can you hear me, Mr. Ashad?
01:14I can't hear.
01:17Okay, give us a couple of moments.
01:18We're just going to fix that with Rizwan Ashad and get in what really the Karnataka government
01:23has to say about these allegations.
01:26That E30 level blending is taking place even when the fuel is being supplied as E20.
01:32Oil companies in the centre, according to the Karnataka Congress,
01:35are working together to exploit consumers.
01:38Let's take a look at this report and then we'll bring back Mr. Rizwan Ashad.
01:51First of all, once again.
02:02In fact, all the details that are emerging right now,
02:05there is a big political showdown.
02:07But importantly, what I'd also like to highlight here
02:09is that we're seeing in Keralam to a similar step
02:13that is being taken by the government there,
02:15who said that, look, what's happened in Karnataka is concerning.
02:18We are going to conduct a similar such test across the state of Kerala,
02:23which has already kicked off.
02:24And it'll be interesting to see what really emerges there.
02:26While there's been no reaction from the central government,
02:29the Karnataka BJP has already dismissed all of these findings,
02:33calling it a political conspiracy and nothing more.
02:36But as far as these oil companies are concerned,
02:39they've come out to also question the results of this particular test
02:44that's been conducted by the Karnataka government.
02:47And so we see political back and forth that's playing out
02:50and much more than that as well over ethanol blending
02:53and over the findings of the Karnataka government post their survey.
02:57So is E20 actually E20 or is it E31?
03:01Is it E32?
03:02Well, at this point, the Karnataka government says one thing
03:05and the oil companies say quite an other,
03:08maintaining that E20, there is absolutely no question
03:11of the ethanol levels being higher than that.
03:17As we get you, in fact, those details,
03:19what we're also breaking down for you is ethanol blending
03:22and how it's been in the heart of a controversy for the last many months.
03:27Why?
03:28Because even as we're speaking about this E20 Rao,
03:31there is a proposal by the central government to push that forward.
03:34They've given the nod just last week for E100 fuel
03:37to also become a reality in the country.
03:40Of course, that is based on also vehicles that are compliant.
03:42But the reason that this has also triggered so much concern among consumers
03:46is that there's been a lot of talk about how vehicles
03:49that are not compliant or okay with having ethanol blended fuel in their vehicles
03:54do see some impact of these ethanol blended fuel being added in.
04:00And so consumers are worried about mileage,
04:03are also worried about wear and tear in their cars.
04:06Let me bring in Minister Rizwana Ashraddha on this broadcast.
04:12Okay, but before that, here's a detailed report.
04:18Rising fuel costs are already burning a hole in motorists' pockets.
04:23Now, a fresh controversy over ethanol blending has raised further concerns.
04:29The Karnataka government has levelled serious allegations,
04:33claiming that recent tests found higher than permitted ethanol content in petrol.
04:38Immediately, the government should ensure that they go ahead
04:42and remove the ethanol mixing in the petrol.
04:46And they claim that there is a huge loss for the people
04:50who are using the petrol across the country.
04:53And they say that they will continue the protest
04:55until unless the government consider their demand
05:00and ensure that ethanol is not being mixed with the petrol.
05:05The Karnataka government claims that E20 blending levels improved
05:10after its exposure
05:11and assured that it would conduct periodic tests.
05:15We demand from the central government
05:17that there should be an independent testing mechanism established.
05:21Now they have been exposed
05:23and now they, for some time,
05:25they'll saturate the E20 blend
05:27to what they have declared.
05:29But we need to keep checking randomly.
05:33According to the state's findings,
05:35samples collected from 67 locations
05:38showed ethanol content exceeding
05:40the prescribed 20% limit
05:42in several instances,
05:44allegedly going up to even 30%.
06:14But the public sector,
06:16oil marketing companies
06:18has rejected all claims
06:19made by Karnataka government.
06:22The BJP has hit back
06:23at the Karnataka government,
06:25questioning its findings
06:26and claiming that the state
06:27does not have a laboratory
06:29to test fuel quality.
06:31He's not doing his proper,
06:33his work,
06:35showing central government.
06:37I ask the state government,
06:39you have any for petrol and diesel,
06:43for investigation,
06:45for anything you have
06:47any lab,
06:50there is no lab for you.
06:53There is no lab meant
06:54for petrol and diesel.
06:57Following Karnataka,
06:59the Keralam government
07:00has also ordered
07:01fuel quality checks
07:02in four districts.
07:04We are at the Indian Oil Corporation
07:06petrol pump here in Thiruvanthapuram
07:07where now officials
07:08are collecting samples
07:09of petrol for ethanol tests.
07:12Now, as you can see
07:13in the visuals,
07:14officials have collected
07:15these samples.
07:16They have separated it
07:17into six boxes.
07:19Now, six samples
07:20have been collected.
07:21Two, we are learning,
07:22will be sent
07:23to the lab for testing.
07:24Two will be sent
07:25to the office
07:27and two,
07:28will be sent
07:28to the dealers
07:29for testing.
07:30This is what
07:30the officials
07:31are telling us.
07:32We are getting
07:32a lot of complaints
07:33about the vehicles
07:34getting damaged,
07:35engines getting damaged
07:36and the mileage
07:36coming down.
07:37Many complaints
07:38and reports
07:39through the medias
07:40are already there.
07:42Now, also,
07:42the recent inspections
07:44in Karnataka
07:44was also a major concern
07:46to us.
07:46So,
07:47we are ruling out
07:48all such concerns.
07:50We are trying
07:51for this inspection,
07:52we are trying
07:53to rule out
07:53that there are
07:54no discrepancies
07:55in the petrols
07:56that are sold
07:57in the state of Kerala.
07:59The controversy
08:00has now raised
08:01a larger question.
08:02Is the petrol
08:03you are buying
08:04actually E20
08:05or a higher blend?
08:07Bureau Report,
08:08India Today.
08:12So,
08:13it's over these findings
08:14of the Karnataka government
08:15that there's a huge controversy.
08:16You heard a couple
08:17of reactions there.
08:18Oil marketing companies,
08:19for starters,
08:20have completely rejected
08:21all of these allegations.
08:23They have said
08:24that, look,
08:24this was random
08:25testing done,
08:26maybe in some pumps,
08:27but no question
08:28of this being
08:28the situation
08:29across Karnataka.
08:30And they've said
08:31that the kind
08:32of testing
08:33that was conducted,
08:33we don't buy
08:34the results.
08:35The BJP,
08:36the Karnataka BJP,
08:37mind you,
08:37because the central
08:38government hasn't
08:39really responded
08:39to any of this,
08:40but the Karnataka BJP
08:42has come out
08:43to very clearly say
08:44that none of
08:45the testing centers
08:47can really be trusted
08:48and that's why
08:49they don't buy
08:50any of these results.
08:51It's led to
08:52a huge showdown
08:53in Karnataka,
08:54but more than that,
08:55concern also
08:56among consumers
08:57on what's really
08:58happening right now.
09:00Besides that,
09:01in Kerala now,
09:02another Congress
09:03government,
09:03the Kerala government
09:04has said,
09:05we too will conduct
09:06these kind of tests.
09:08If this spreads now
09:09across the country,
09:10in more and more states,
09:12if you see
09:12these kind of tests,
09:13the question will be
09:14what is the result
09:15that will come out?
09:16Is it a politically
09:17motivated,
09:17a politically colored test,
09:19or is this the reality
09:20that E20 sometimes
09:22goes up to E31?
09:24Asma.
09:28And joining us
09:29on this broadcast,
09:30we've got Prashant,
09:32GS, BJP spokesperson,
09:33as well as Mr.
09:34British Kalapa,
09:35Congress national
09:35spokesperson.
09:36Good evening.
09:37Thank you both
09:37very much for your time.
09:39Mr. Prashant,
09:40I'd like your word first
09:41on these findings.
09:42Extremely concerning.
09:43I think every consumer
09:45right now in Karnataka
09:46will be worried
09:47about what kind of fuel
09:48is being sold
09:49in the name of E20.
09:52Good evening, Akshita.
09:53You see,
09:54if at all the findings
09:56are true,
09:57and if proper tests
09:58have been carried out
09:59in accordance
10:00with the procedures
10:01laid out,
10:02and with the labs
10:04which have tested
10:04have got the accreditation
10:05to test it properly,
10:08then it's one thing.
10:10Now,
10:10the oil companies
10:11on the contrary claim
10:12that Sampley,
10:13have not been drawn.
10:14So as BJP,
10:15we are not taking
10:16a political stand here.
10:18We are with the people
10:19of Karnataka
10:19to say that
10:20if the samples drawn
10:22have been proper
10:22and if the oil marketing
10:24companies insist
10:25that joint samples
10:27be drawn
10:27and a fresh sampling
10:30be carried out
10:31and testing be carried out,
10:32the state government
10:33should not worry about it
10:34because it's ultimately
10:35not BJP or Congress,
10:36but it is the consumer.
10:38So therefore,
10:39it is not about
10:40who's winning the battle
10:41or who's not.
10:42And whoever is guilty,
10:45whether it's the oil
10:45marketing companies
10:46or the end banks
10:48which are adulterating it,
10:50they should be held liable
10:51and in accordance
10:52with the Akshita's be taken.
10:54Sir, right now,
10:55the test that's been conducted
10:56and what's been found,
10:57do you trust this?
10:58Do you believe
10:59what they're saying?
11:01Akshita,
11:02it's not about
11:02what I believe in.
11:04For any test to be done,
11:05it cannot be unilateral.
11:06You cannot randomly
11:07do something.
11:08You have to do it
11:09in accordance
11:09with the procedures
11:10established by law
11:11and once you make a claim
11:12that oil marketing companies
11:13are responsible
11:14and oil marketing companies
11:15in turn say that
11:16the petrol banks
11:17are responsible
11:17if they're adulterating
11:18at their end,
11:19you would not know
11:20at whose hand
11:21the fault lies.
11:22So therefore,
11:23it is imperative
11:24to go into the root
11:25of the matter,
11:25let a joint survey
11:27or sampling be done
11:28and whoever is guilty
11:29may be punished
11:30in accordance with law.
11:31Okay,
11:31so you're not dismissing it.
11:33Very clearly,
11:34you're not dismissing it.
11:35You're not denying it completely.
11:36None of that.
11:37No,
11:37it is actually
11:38because it's a technical thing.
11:39It's not about BJP dismissing it
11:41or Congress wanting to up the end.
11:43I'm glad you're saying that
11:44but the reality is
11:45that on this technical thing
11:46there's been no reaction
11:47from the central government.
11:49Akshita,
11:49the central government
11:50did not react.
11:51It's the oil marketing companies
11:52who are there,
11:54oil marketing companies
11:55and the end of petrol banks
11:58who ultimately
11:59give out the fuel
12:01and the state government
12:03has got every right
12:04to investigate
12:05into the entire procedure.
12:07Let the common samples
12:10be drawn.
12:11You have the representatives
12:12of the oil marketing companies.
12:13You have the state government
12:14representatives
12:15and then please draw the samples
12:17and do the tests
12:18and whatever the results are
12:19and if found guilty,
12:22take action in accordance with law.
12:24You should not do it
12:24for political gains
12:25but you should do it
12:26for the welfare of the consumers.
12:27Mr. Brijesh Kalapa,
12:28your opening statement,
12:29sir,
12:29are the BJP saying
12:30that look,
12:31there must be accountability,
12:32that accountability
12:33is not on the part
12:34of the BJP at least?
12:36See, Akshita,
12:37I think as far as
12:38this ethanol issue
12:39is concerned,
12:40this seems to be
12:41primarily the brainchild
12:43of one union minister
12:45who has been pushing this
12:46and there are indications
12:48that he and his family members
12:50benefit from this decision
12:51to infuse ethanol
12:53into petrol.
12:53Now, the point is this,
12:56that one,
12:58you have,
12:59the first thing
13:00that they should have done
13:01is to have ensured
13:03that there will be
13:03ethanol-compliant companies.
13:05The manufacturer itself
13:07ought to have made it
13:07ethanol-compliant
13:08but that has not been done
13:10without making a vehicle
13:11ethanol-compliant.
13:13They have straightaway said,
13:14no, we'll go around
13:15with E20, right?
13:17If you go to a country
13:18like, say, Thailand,
13:19you have the option
13:21of E0,
13:21you have the option
13:22of E20.
13:23That option should be
13:24left to the consumer.
13:25It should not be
13:26the government that decides,
13:28right?
13:28But here,
13:29the consumer has no say.
13:31As you know,
13:31ethanol has a
13:33hygroscopic nature
13:34which attracts water
13:36and therefore,
13:37there are several
13:38complaints in the city
13:39that the petrol tanks
13:42are full of water
13:43and so many people
13:44have had to remove
13:45the water
13:45from time to time.
13:48Now,
13:48that was an extent
13:49of E20 only.
13:51Now,
13:52if a situation
13:52has arisen
13:53where the extent
13:56of ethanol
13:56has been increased
13:57unilaterally
13:59to E31,
14:00then what happens
14:02to the vehicle
14:02because people spend
14:03lakhs and lakhs
14:04on billion vehicles.
14:06You know,
14:07and then ultimately
14:08if the wear and tear
14:09is so much,
14:09if the carbon deposits
14:11are so much
14:11that the vehicle
14:12itself becomes redundant,
14:14who is going to
14:15bear this loss.
14:16No,
14:16but Mr. Kalapa,
14:17the BJP is saying
14:17they share your concern.
14:19No,
14:20it's not merely
14:21to say that
14:22thank you for sharing
14:23our concerns,
14:25but thank you for
14:25beating us on the head
14:26repeatedly.
14:28You know,
14:28what is the point
14:29of sharing our concerns
14:30while beating us
14:31on the head repeatedly?
14:32See,
14:33ultimately,
14:33you have to understand
14:34this,
14:35that there has been
14:35one minute,
14:36one minute,
14:36one minute,
14:37one minute,
14:38one minute.
14:39So,
14:39the point is this,
14:40that 67 tests
14:42have taken place
14:44across the,
14:45you know,
14:45board,
14:46and then all 67,
14:47they find
14:48that the ethanol
14:49extent is 31.
14:51So,
14:51when this is the case,
14:53can it be said
14:54that there is a mixing
14:55in each of these 67?
14:57The 67 don't belong
14:58to the same owner.
15:00So,
15:00let's assume
15:01there is an extent
15:01of mixing,
15:02that somebody is doing
15:03it to profit here,
15:04but it can't be
15:05the same case
15:06for 67 stations
15:08separately.
15:09So,
15:09this is beyond
15:10comprehension.
15:11See,
15:12the first thing is
15:13that there is somebody
15:13benefiting from the
15:14whole thing.
15:15Who is the person
15:16benefiting?
15:17Mr. Prashant,
15:17do you want to
15:18answer that?
15:20Akshita,
15:21the Congress strategy
15:22has been always
15:23hit and run.
15:24They make wild
15:24delegations,
15:25they follow Rahul Gandhi,
15:26he makes wild
15:27delegations,
15:28and then apologizes
15:29in the Supreme Court
15:30time and again
15:30because he doesn't
15:31have proof.
15:32So,
15:32therefore,
15:32this sort of
15:33hit and run
15:33is not the agenda.
15:35That is in the DNA
15:36of Congress.
15:37They always do that.
15:38They don't have proofs.
15:39They talk about
15:40vote story,
15:40they don't have proofs.
15:41They want to have
15:42street fights.
15:43Even for this,
15:43now they are making
15:44accusations against
15:45one of the ministers
15:46without any proof.
15:47So,
15:47they should not get
15:48on to this theatrics
15:49and politics here.
15:50Instead,
15:51if consumer welfare
15:52is supreme,
15:53why are they refusing
15:55the oil marketing
15:57company's request
15:58to have a joint
15:59survey being carried
16:00out,
16:01let the representative
16:02of oil companies
16:02and the state
16:03government officials
16:04and probably
16:06the bank owners
16:06also be present
16:07when the samples are
16:08drawn.
16:08Okay,
16:09okay.
16:09What is stopping
16:09the government?
16:10You've raised a lot
16:10of allegations,
16:11sir.
16:11It's only fair to get
16:12the Congress's reaction,
16:13but I do apologize.
16:14We've got a minister
16:15with us on this broadcast.
16:17So,
16:17thank you,
16:17Mr. Kalapa
16:18and Mr. Prashant
16:19for joining us.
16:19I apologize
16:20that we had to
16:21cut short that conversation.
16:22Let's cut across
16:23to this exclusive.
16:29Mr. Rizwan Arshad,
16:31Minister for Food,
16:31Civil Supplies
16:32and Consumer Affairs
16:33in Karnataka
16:34is joining us
16:34on this broadcast.
16:35Mr. Arshad,
16:36good evening.
16:37I'm glad we managed
16:38to fix that audio
16:39connection.
16:40Run us through,
16:41sir,
16:41first of all,
16:42what you found
16:43in the tests
16:44that you conducted.
16:45From what I've read,
16:46this started in September
16:47and you've tested
16:48over 60 different locations.
16:53From September 21st
16:55onwards,
16:56we started collecting
16:57samples
16:58and collection of samples
17:00does have a process
17:02to be followed,
17:03the procedure
17:03to be followed
17:04according to rules
17:05and regulations.
17:06I cannot just do it
17:08on my own
17:08wins and fancies
17:09and when we collect
17:10the samples,
17:11it has to be done
17:13in the presence
17:14of the oil marketing
17:15companies
17:15or their dealers
17:17whoever is authorized
17:18there
17:19and it is jointly
17:20signed
17:21and the density
17:22of that fuel
17:24which we are collecting
17:25as a sample
17:25needs to be recorded
17:27and all the parameters
17:29have to be recorded
17:30and then
17:31the same sample,
17:32a set of sample
17:33is taken by us,
17:34a set of sample
17:34is taken by them.
17:36Right?
17:36So it is not
17:37an exercise
17:38done in isolation
17:39only by the
17:41Karnataka government.
17:42So we have
17:43followed all the rules
17:44and regulations.
17:45Today,
17:45I have shown
17:47in my press conference
17:48all the documents
17:49of that record
17:51and I will be sending
17:52that to all this
17:53to the petroleum
17:54and natural gas
17:55ministry
17:56and 63 samples
17:58we collected
17:59and sent it
18:00to the same
18:01oil marketing companies
18:02asking them
18:03a few pointed questions
18:05and one of that
18:06question we had
18:07which we needed
18:09clarification was
18:10what is the percentage
18:11of ethanol
18:12blended in these samples?
18:14Right?
18:15And these 63 samples
18:16does not come
18:17from one district
18:18from not
18:19from one company
18:20one marketing
18:21oil marketing company
18:22does not come
18:23from one region.
18:24It is spread
18:24across Karnataka state
18:26across all
18:27oil marketing companies
18:29and collected
18:31at different times
18:32not that it is
18:33just done
18:34in one day.
18:35So they refused
18:37a clear cut answer.
18:39They sent vaguely
18:40dodging
18:41this pointed question.
18:43then we got
18:44suspicious
18:44and then we again
18:46collected samples
18:47So you did
18:48a second test?
18:52We did a second test
18:54at one go
18:57at 14 places
18:58out of 7 districts
18:59and the same process
19:00was followed
19:01one set of
19:02one set of sample
19:03was with them
19:04one set of sample
19:05was with us
19:05and we sent it
19:07to a NABL accredited
19:08ISO certified lab
19:10because you didn't
19:11satisfy us
19:12you never came out
19:13with the exact
19:15results
19:15of what we were
19:17what my concerns were
19:18so we had to go
19:19to a third party lab
19:20an independent lab
19:21it was not tested
19:22at a government facility
19:23and that third party lab
19:25very clearly established
19:26that these samples
19:28contain
19:28up to
19:2931.2
19:31ethanol blend
19:33what am I supposed
19:34to do?
19:34when I came
19:35to the same
19:36oil marketing company
19:37they didn't ask me
19:38to come for a
19:39joint inspection
19:40they could have
19:40asked me to come
19:41for a joint inspection
19:42then itself
19:43now after I went
19:44to a third party
19:45a certified party
19:48who is also
19:49accredited
19:49and certified
19:50by the same
19:51government of India
19:52and from there
19:53I bring my results
19:54now you ask me
19:55to come for a
19:56joint inspection
19:56when I know
19:57fully well
19:58that I have
19:59exposed you
19:59and you are
20:00trying to
20:01set right
20:01your ethanol
20:02limits
20:02once you
20:03set right
20:03your ethanol
20:04limits
20:04you ask me
20:05to come
20:05for a joint
20:06testing
20:07I am not
20:08a fool
20:09I am
20:10also
20:11I also have
20:12some common sense
20:13sure
20:13Mr. Asha
20:14but let me
20:14highlight
20:15for example
20:15what these
20:16companies say
20:16like Indian Oil
20:17they are saying
20:18that we conducted
20:19samples
20:19from different
20:20states
20:21I think
20:21they have said
20:21about 27 states
20:23where they have
20:24actually collected
20:24these samples
20:25and then they have
20:26said that
20:26okay
20:26in Karnataka
20:27also we conducted
20:28this kind of
20:28random testing
20:29you may have
20:30found 31%
20:31we found
20:32under
20:32we found
20:33under 20%
20:34so they are
20:35saying that
20:35the variation
20:35itself is very
20:36different
20:36which is why
20:37they have
20:37raised those
20:38questions sir
20:38about what
20:39you found
20:40I can believe
20:41your version
20:41or I can believe
20:42their version
20:42it ultimately
20:43comes to that
20:44it's a he says
20:44she says
20:45now
20:47so let me
20:48tell you one
20:49thing
20:49there is a
20:50conflict of
20:50interest here
20:51the oil
20:52marketing companies
20:53who are supplying
20:54the oil
20:55themselves are
20:56testing the oil
20:56and certifying
20:57their own supply
20:58is it not a
20:59conflict of interest
21:00I have gone
21:01to a third
21:01party I have
21:02not got it
21:03done in a
21:03government facility
21:04I have gone
21:04to a third
21:05party which is
21:05certified and
21:08accredited you
21:09are certifying
21:10your own supply
21:11of oil and
21:12you claim that
21:14everything is fine
21:14so what I am
21:16telling here to
21:17the government
21:17of India is
21:18please set up
21:19an independent
21:21testing mechanism
21:23independent of
21:24the oil
21:24marketing companies
21:25here the accused
21:26is the oil
21:27marketing company
21:28and the judge
21:28is also the
21:29oil marketing
21:30company
21:30they are judging
21:31their own case
21:32and certifying
21:32their own product
21:33so this is not
21:35fair to the
21:36common people
21:37so the government
21:38has our demand
21:39has been very
21:39clear set up an
21:40independent testing
21:42mechanism a third
21:43party independent
21:44testing mechanism
21:45independent of the
21:46oil marketing
21:47company so the
21:48people are assured
21:49that these companies
21:50are not doing
21:52anything which is
21:53not permissible
21:54what prompted it
21:55what prompted you
21:57and your government
21:58to say look we
21:59need to go ahead
22:00and test the
22:00e-20 fuel that's
22:01being supplied to
22:02the people of
22:03Karnataka
22:03was there a
22:04suspicion
22:05this is my
22:06second leg of
22:07campaign on
22:08petrol banks and
22:09oil marketing
22:10companies the
22:10first leg of
22:11campaign was one
22:12and a half month
22:12back where we
22:13did understand
22:15and examine
22:17whether the
22:18correct quantity
22:19of fuel is
22:19being discharged
22:21in the dispensing
22:23units and whether
22:24they are calibrated
22:25not calibrated
22:26everything and we
22:27found out that
22:2885% of the
22:30petrol calibration
22:31units out of
22:323200 nozzles we
22:33checked 2700 odd
22:35nozzles were not
22:36dispensing correct
22:37quantity of fuel
22:39quantity I'm not
22:40talking about the
22:40quality that
22:42generated a huge
22:43awareness in the
22:45state and in the
22:46social media and
22:47wherever I went
22:48the people were
22:49asking sir there is
22:50some problem my
22:51vehicle is not
22:51giving the
22:52mileage it needs
22:54to give which
22:55has which has
22:56been I have been
22:57experiencing earlier
22:58it used to give
22:58good mileage now
22:59suddenly there is a
23:00drop in mileage and
23:01suddenly there is
23:01repairs among two
23:03wheelers cars
23:04everywhere so we
23:06are not getting
23:07exact amount of
23:07mileage we are not
23:08getting the you
23:11know earlier the
23:12stability the car
23:13had we are sending
23:14it for repairs and
23:15repair charges and
23:16servicing charges
23:17have gone up that
23:18prompted us to
23:19probe little further
23:20so we thought we
23:22were doing a
23:22campaign on the
23:23quantity of the
23:24oil which is being
23:25dispensed now we
23:26need to do something
23:27on the quality as
23:28well and and out of
23:30I mean out of
23:30goodwill we didn't
23:31go directly to a
23:32third-party laboratory
23:34we went to the same
23:35oil marketing company
23:36requesting them to
23:38give a test result on
23:40these parameters which
23:41our government wants
23:42to know when they
23:44dodged us when they
23:46dodged us only then
23:48we had to we had
23:50to yeah go ahead
23:56sir so only then we
23:58had to go to a
24:00third-party laboratory
24:01and my thing is that
24:04we have given them
24:05enough chances we have
24:07given them opportunities
24:08to satisfy us satisfy
24:10the people of
24:10Karnataka when they
24:12could not do that
24:13only then we went to a
24:15third-party laboratory
24:16who are utter shock
24:18we got to know that
24:19they are blending
24:20more way more than
24:21E20 and all the
24:23concerns of the
24:24people that their
24:25mileage is dropped
24:26their vehicles are
24:27getting you know
24:29issues in their
24:30engines
24:38no but Mr. Ashad you're
24:39rightly you're rightly
24:41putting the honors on
24:42these oil marketing
24:42companies and yes they
24:43have a lot to answer
24:44for because you're
24:45right these are very
24:46very concerning what
24:47these samples have
24:48found you also put the
24:50honors sir on the BGP
24:51on the central
24:52government now the BGP
24:54and we had Mr.
24:55Prashant with us they
24:56say that look we're
24:57equally concerned there
24:58should be an impartial
24:59look into this the
25:00agency involved in this
25:01testing should be an
25:03impartial third agency as
25:05you've highlighted when
25:07the central government
25:08when the BGP is dragged
25:09into this then does it
25:11become unnecessarily
25:12political is this then
25:14about political brownie
25:15points rather than the
25:16issue here
25:23not really not really the
25:25central government decides
25:26the policy of blending
25:27the ethanol and they
25:29decide the percentage of
25:30the ethanol the east is
25:32executed by the oil
25:33marketing companies and
25:35ethanol policy you know
25:36the way they have
25:38escalated it to E20
25:40before the five years
25:42before the deadline the E20
25:43was supposed to get
25:44implemented by 2030 they
25:47advanced it by 2025 although
25:49the percentage of E20
25:51compliant vehicles is very
25:53minor still manufactured and
25:56the majority of the
25:57vehicles are not E20
25:58compliant the same Siam if
26:01you understand society of
26:03Indian automobile
26:04manufacturers wrote to the
26:06central government on 26
26:08July of this year 2026 and
26:11within one week they were
26:12pressurized to take it back
26:13they wrote that the mixture
26:16of chlorine and in the
26:19ethanol is so high that
26:22vehicles and their engines
26:23are getting corroded it is
26:25affecting the performance of
26:27the engine they are coming
26:28back for repairs please do
26:30something about it E20 has
26:33these issues once they
26:34openly wrote this they had
26:35to withdraw this after the
26:37pressure of the central
26:37government the same car
26:39manufacturing companies have
26:40reported they have been
26:42treasurized to withdraw their
26:43own attorney general in
26:44supreme court went and said
26:45it's an experiment he was
26:47asked to retreat see I'm
26:48what I'm telling you BMW like
26:50company the CEO of BMW comes
26:52and says my car engines
26:54cannot handle beyond E20
26:55E30 we don't manufacture cars
26:58a company like BMW with a
27:00sophisticated engine cannot
27:02handle E30 can you believe
27:04that cars used by middle class
27:07people two wheelers used by
27:08middle class upper middle class
27:10lower middle class people can
27:12digest this E20 and above fuel
27:14is it not a responsible
27:17government's responsibility to
27:19come out and expose this and
27:22demand for an independent
27:23mechanism to be set up
27:25permanently I am not asking
27:26independent testing at one go
27:30at one time I'm asking make it
27:33a permanent feature where oil
27:35marketing companies and their
27:37samples will not be tested by
27:38their own labs but it will go to
27:40independent authority they will
27:42time and again periodically keep
27:45checking and assuring the people
27:46things are right now there is no
27:50nothing is right in this oil and
27:52natural gas department because not
27:55only about ethanol you call high
27:57speed diesel you call high speed
27:58petrol you charge 160 170 rupees for
28:01that nobody knows what is being
28:03mixed what is not being there is no
28:05clarity everything is ambiguous and
28:07people of India are paying from their
28:10own pockets way more than what they
28:13are getting back this is the problem
28:15you've put forth your demands sir to
28:17the central government and why you
28:18believe that they must also be
28:20accountable for what's happening my
28:21final question to you mr.
28:25a joint inspection with these oil
28:28marketing companies I want it to be
28:33randomly done periodically not one
28:35time I know for the fact that in the
28:37six terminals in my state Karnataka
28:39where you are blending because we have
28:41six terminals where they blend you
28:44know ethanol and all these six
28:46parameters once we expose them they
28:49have no set it back right now they are
28:51blending e20 and now they are asking me
28:53to come for a joint testing I also
28:56have little common sense I also
28:58understand how it works so you think
29:00it will be e20 now now it will be e20
29:03because you have been exposed very
29:05badly in front of people you will not
29:07dare to go e30 now but maybe down the
29:10line three months down the line six
29:11months you'll again start blending once
29:13this issue dies down so there I'm asking
29:16the central government demanding from
29:18them set up an independent testing
29:20mechanism okay by third party not by the
29:23here there is a conflict of interest the
29:25bharat petroleum sends petrol supplies
29:28petrol and test its own petrol certifies
29:30its own petrol IOC does the same HPCL does
29:33the same reliance that's the same any
29:36other shell does the same how are you
29:39going to give them the authority to
29:41certify their own product is this not a
29:44conflict of interest is it in the interest
29:46of justice is whether it is in the interest of
29:48justice is my question no I will reiterate
29:50sir that the findings of in fact this
29:53survey these samples that you have
29:55collected is extremely concerning for
29:57every single consumer in Karnataka and
29:59across now we're seeing other states
30:01also for emulate your example and conduct
30:04these tests mr. Rizwan Ashur thank you
30:06thank you thank you for joining us here on
30:08India today sir and giving us some of
30:10those details of what you found this is
30:12of course leading to several questions
30:13once again on ethanol blending in the
30:16country we'll have to see how really OMC's
30:19particularly respond because so far
30:20they've said we're open to a joint
30:22inspection and say that there's no
30:24question of excessive ethanol blending
30:26from Delhi to Chennai and Hyderabad
30:28geography may be different but the
30:30pollution story was the same yesterday
30:32Chennai and Hyderabad witnessed a sharp
30:35spike in pollution with the AQI levels
30:37touching alarming highs here's a breakdown
30:40of what each southern city looked like
30:48a day after Diwali it wasn't just Delhi
30:50that blanketed into thick smog from the
30:53national capital to India's southern cities
30:55the post Diwali pollution story is
30:57looking all too familiar according to
31:00open source air quality monitoring
31:02platform AQI dot in while Delhi's AQI
31:05went up to 2,000 to 83 after Diwali
31:08Chennai and Hyderabad also witnessed a
31:12sharp deterioration in air quality with
31:15AQI levels crossing the 766 mark in
31:18several areas in Chennai intermittent
31:20rainfall provided some relief but failed
31:23to completely clear the polluted air
31:27we are here today the next day after
31:29Diwali and you could see we have a clear
31:31sky that is a pattern over here however
31:33on Diwali day this was not the situation
31:35as we also have reports that the air
31:37quality index was absolutely horrific to
31:40breathe and all because of the weather
31:42situation we also had a rainy day
31:44prediction along with that a thick smog
31:46all because of the crackers burst one
31:48good thing about Chennai is that crackers
31:50are burst only on two days on specific
31:52times that are being allotted by the
31:54Tamil Nadu government the story was no
31:57different in Hyderabad the city woke up
31:59to a grey smog filled morning on Monday
32:01a day after Diwali celebrations Sunday
32:04night AQI levels in some areas even
32:07crossed the 900 mark according to go AQI
32:11dot in however as the day progressed
32:14air quality levels gradually improved as
32:17Hyderabad celebrates Diwali with fire
32:19crackers and festivities air quality
32:21remains the main focus well the
32:24Telangana pollution control board's
32:26monitoring machine here monitoring
32:28device here in Khertabad has recorded
32:31air quality at 73 which is said to be
32:34good children senior citizens and
32:36people suffering from respiratory
32:37alignments are advised to minimize the
32:40exposure to smoke and polluted air
32:43every year the post Diwali pollution
32:46crisis returns leaving people gasping for
32:49clean air but is this becoming the new
32:52normal you may have never touched a
32:54cigarette in your life but the air you
32:57breathe could expose you to
32:59particulate pollution comparable to
33:01that from smoking several cigarettes a
33:03day bureau report India today and the
33:09Chennai open tennis final was also
33:11postponed due to the hazardous AQI
33:13levels here's more the day after Diwali
33:20has brought about the usual drop in the
33:22air quality index across India with
33:24pollution levels now several notches over
33:27what they should be in the capital city
33:30of New Delhi measures like water
33:32spring already being deployed in a bid
33:34to keep the AQI numbers under some
33:36control but it wasn't just the national
33:39capital that was hit as the Chennai open
33:42final between defending champion Janice
33:44Chien and Magda Lynette which was
33:46supposed to be held on Sunday evening
33:48was also postponed to make matters
33:51worse Chien then posted the story on
33:54Instagram showing not only how bad the
33:56smog looked but also the alarming AQI
33:58of 1,556 which seemingly did not deter
34:02the organizers the match was first
34:05delayed by rain showers but had to be
34:07postponed even further as heavy smoke
34:09from Diwali fireworks in Kalfta stadium
34:12entirely
34:13this isn't the only sporting event in
34:16recent times to be hit by pollution in
34:18India in 2025 a T20i between South
34:21Africa and India and Lucknow had to be
34:23called off due to pollution when India
34:25all-rounder Hardik Pandya was spotted
34:27training in a mask an upcoming cricket
34:30game between India and Sri Lanka that
34:32was said to be held in New Delhi was also
34:35shifted to Vizag amid concerns about the
34:37winter pollution with the Chennai open set
34:40to end after this calendar year it was
34:43perhaps not the farewell the tournament
34:45deserved but it serves once again to
34:47highlight India's growing pollution
34:49woes Malayalam superstar Mamuti is
34:53facing hate from left groups in Kerala
34:55why because of his closeness to a BJP
34:58leader the superstar's visit to a BJP
35:01leader's house is what sparked the
35:03latest round of Mamuti versus left
35:06particularly on social media where a lot
35:08of pro-left handles are now criticizing
35:10slamming the actor for meeting BJP
35:13state vice president B Gopalakrishnan
35:16at his residence the BJP leader's
35:18daughter had gotten married Mamuti
35:19couldn't attend and so went to his
35:21residence to convey his wishes he
35:23wasn't the only one chief minister VD
35:26Satishan had attended the wedding
35:27former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan
35:29representative the face of the left
35:32attended and yet Mamuti is the only one
35:34to face all of this hate from the left
35:36over a simple non-political friendly
35:39meeting this isn't the first time this
35:41has happened it's not surprising either
35:43because in Keralaam where two
35:45superstars Mamuti and Mohanlala made
35:48it clear they will not be dragged into
35:49politics or taking a stand they
35:51constantly find themselves in the heart
35:54of a political controversy
35:55of a political controversy
35:56over the world
35:57over the world