Petrol pump dealers to go on indefinite strike in Haryana
The All Haryana Petrol Pump Dealers Association has announced an indefinite strike from July 20 against the nonfulfilment of their demands by the state government.
The All Haryana Petrol Pump Dealers Association has announced an indefinite strike from July 20 against the nonfulfilment of their demands by the state government.
Association president Dinesh Goyal told HT on Friday that none of the 2,310 petrol pumps would buy petrol or diesel from petroleum companies. He said that the decision was taken after a resolution was passed by state petroleum dealers in a meeting held in Rohtak on Friday.
“The interests of our trade have been ignored by the Haryana government repeatedly. After the hike in the VAT on diesel in Haryana, the fuel will now be cheaper in other states where VAT is lower. Transporters coming from several states like Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh will not buy diesel from Haryana. They will go to other states where diesel is cheaper, which will ultimately kill our business,” said Goyal.
Dealers said that the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leadership had assured that VAT would be increased only marginally.
Goyal said that as a mark of protest, the dealers had stopped selling fuel to government vehicles on credit from July 10 to 13.
Admitting that the forthcoming indefinite strike would hit the common man, Goyal claimed that the association was also fighting for a wider section of the society.
“The sharp rise in VAT on diesel will directly impact pricing of all commodities. Farmers also have to shell out extra due to the state government’s move to increase the tax. The state government is crushing the interests of all sections without acknowledging the hardships faced due to the arbitrary decision,” he said.