New Delhi: Team Bharat made a significant political statement regarding the E20 policy of the Union Government at the Press Club of India located in New Delhi. Tehseen Poonawalla, the founder of Team Bharat, wanted to question Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister, about the impact of this policy on the consumers, the farmers, and the prices of food items. He insisted on the need for transparency regarding the conflict of interest. The session witnessed the participation of Tehseen Poonawalla, the founder of Team Bharat, Dinesh Tantia, the co-founder of Team Bharat, and Ishan Bhardwaj, the core member of Team Bharat.

WHO IS E20 REALLY BENEFITING?

Making Team Bharat’s position clear, Poonawalla said the organisation was not against ethanol itself. Its objection, he said, was to pushing E20 as a mandatory policy without adequate transparency, independent assessment or satisfactory answers to consumers’ concerns.

Poonawalla said Team Bharat had held two meetings with the government and proposed that, wherever economically and technically feasible, surplus domestically available ethanol should be used within India before considering imports.

Turning the spotlight directly on Gadkari, Poonawalla raised questions about potential conflicts of interest involving politically influential families and businesses connected with the ethanol industry. He stated: “The biggest conflict of interest in this case is Nitin Gadkari". He further alleged:

“E20 is benefiting no one except for netas’ kids,”Poonawalla demanded transparency regarding the ownership of ethanol businesses, political connections, financial interests and substantial loans associated with companies operating in the sector. Team Bharat called for an independent and transparent examination of any potential conflicts of interest, insisting that no public official should be beyond scrutiny when decisions affect millions of citizens. The organisation challenged the government to provide independently verified evidence demonstrating that E20’s public benefits outweigh its costs and risks for ordinary Indians.

TEAM BHARAT DEMANDS ANSWERS

Team Bharat raised serious concerns about the potential implications of ethanol production for food prices, water availability and agricultural resources. Poonawalla referred to drought and water scarcity in Maharashtra and Karnataka, protests by sugarcane farmers, and the wider economic distress faced by agricultural communities. He also raised concerns about farmer suicides in these states, calling for greater attention to the pressures facing farmers.

Team Bharat questioned whether the government had adequately assessed the possible consequences of the E20 policy for food security, agricultural resources and household budgets. With families already under pressure from festive-season expenses, Poonawalla demanded answers about the policy’s potential relationship with food inflation, including the prices of sugar, rice, eggs, chicken and maize. The organisation also called for transparent assessments of ethanol production costs, water consumption and the policy’s wider economic and environmental implications.

Poonawalla questioned the rationale for promoting ethanol blending when, according to the concerns raised by Team Bharat, its production costs may exceed those of petrol. He also questioned whether the policy’s benefits were being distributed fairly or concentrated among politically connected interests.

“WHERE IS NITIN GADKARI JI HIDING?”

Poonawalla questioned Gadkari’s response to Team Bharat’s earlier criticism of the ethanol policy, alleging that the organisation’s members had previously been labelled “liars” and “paid agents” when they raised concerns.

He asked: “Where is Nitin Gadkariji absconding, and why is Hardeep Singh Puri on mute?”

Poonawalla questioned why Gadkari had allegedly gone silent after Team Bharat reiterated its concerns about the policy. He also criticised Puri for failing to provide clear answers as Petroleum Minister.

Describing the alleged pattern of politically connected beneficiaries as “BETA BADHAO YOJNA” and calling Gadkari a “Sugar Daddy,” Poonawalla demanded full transparency about the interests benefiting from ethanol-related decisions.

Team Bharat called on Gadkari to apologise unconditionally to the citizens of India and resign. It also demanded that the Prime Minister remove Hardeep Singh Puri as Petroleum Minister and ensure appropriate action and accountability concerning Gadkari’s role in promoting the policy.

TEAM BHARAT WARNS PARLIAMENT PROTESTS AND JAIL BHARO ANDOLAN

Team Bharat has issued a clear political ultimatum: by 31 December 2026, the government must remove Hardeep Singh Puri from the post of Union Petroleum Minister and ensure that Nitin Gadkari steps away from promoting ethanol blending. Poonawalla alleged that he had been detained and placed under house arrest following Team Bharat’s two peaceful protests against the E20 policy. The organisation called for the right to peaceful democratic protest to be respected.

Team Bharat warned that if its demands are not addressed by the deadline, it will take to the streets from January 2027, stage a sit-in outside Parliament during its session, and initiate a proposed Jail Bharo Andolan. The organisation said it would continue pressing for answers on E20, its beneficiaries, its impact on consumers and farmers, and potential conflicts of interest.

SC/ST ACT: PROTECT THE VULNERABLE, ENSURE FAIR LEGAL PROCESS

Team Bharat reiterated that caste discrimination is a serious social problem and that the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act serves an important purpose in protecting vulnerable communities. At the same time, it called for fair investigations, due process and institutional accountability in every case.

TEAM BHARAT TO PROTEST OUTSIDE IIT BOMBAY AFTER DIWALI

Team Bharat announced that it would hold a protest outside the IIT Bombay campus after Diwali in support of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. The date of the protest will be announced shortly. The organisation reiterated its support for Professor Doolla and called for a fair, independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of student Sahil Wakode.

According to Team Bharat, Sahil Wakode had not filed a complaint with IIT Bombay’s SC/ST Cell. The organisation called for this claim and all other relevant facts to be independently verified, emphasising that no conclusion should be drawn without a thorough investigation.

Team Bharat also demanded stronger student-welfare mechanisms, accessible grievance-redressal systems and institutional accountability. It said that the circumstances surrounding the case must be examined transparently, with fairness and student welfare at the centre. The planned protest, Team Bharat said, would call for a fair process, accountability and a wider discussion on protecting both vulnerable students and the rights of individuals facing allegations.

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Conclusion: Team Bharat reiterated that it would continue to challenge the government on E20 policy, food inflation, farmers’ distress and accountability in public office. The organisation demanded transparent answers, independent scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest, fair legal processes and concrete action within the stipulated deadline. Team Bharat made it clear that it would not back down from demanding accountability and that the government must answer the questions being raised by citizens.