Seeking parity in pricing and value-added tax (VAT), three members of Petrol Pump Dealers Association, Punjab, (PPDAP) on Friday proceeded on indefinite hunger strike in SAS Nagar. In case the issues of the dealers are not addressed the association has decided not to purchase petrol from May 1 in nine districts, which may lead to drying up of the petrol pumps.
Dealers from nine districts, bordering other states, are participating in the protest call given by the association against high taxes on petroleum products which it said were the highest among northern states. “We have been apprising the government, including the chief minister, for quite some time over equalisation of VAT and state-specific taxes on petroleum products, but there is no response,” association president Paramjit Singh Doaba said.
He said the petroleum dealers have been losing customers owing to high taxes.