New Delhi: All the 400 petrol pumps along with CNG dispensing units in Delhi are shut today in protest against the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) refusal to reduce VAT on fuel, the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) said. The petrol pumps in Delhi will remain closed from 6 am today till 5 am on Tuesday.

There are about 400 petrol pumps in Delhi which also have linked compressed natural gas (CNG) stations and all of them will be closed for nearly 24 hours in protest, the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) said in a statement.

Delhi: All 400 petrol pumps along with linked CNG dispensing units to remain shut from 6 am today to 5 am tomorrow in protest against Delhi govt’s refusal to reduce VAT on diesel & petrol in the national capital. The protest has been called by Delhi Petrol Dealers Association. pic.twitter.com/RYQr85FrZm — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2018

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has alleged that it is a BJP-sponsored strike.

Petrol pump owners hv told us privately that this is a BJP sponsored strike, actively supported by oil cos. In fact, BJP has thrust it upon petrol pump owners. People will give BJP a befitting reply in elections for continuously inconveniencing people thro their dirty politics. https://t.co/S8pLZNbIOw — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 21, 2018

The Centre government had reduced the excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹ 1.50 per litre and had asked state-run oil marketing companies to reduce the prices by another Re 1 per litre. Following the announcement, several BJP-run state governments had also reduced VAT by ₹ 2.5 to provide a total relief of ₹ 5 per litre to the consumers.The AAP government in Delhi, however did not do so, resulting in fuel becoming more expensive than bordering Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

DPDA president Nischal Singhania has urged Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP to immediately reduce VAT on petrol and diesel “DPDA urges the Delhi government to immediately reduce VAT on petrol and diesel and encourage commuters to buy euro VI fuel and save the livelihood of employees and owners of petrol pumps of Delhi and also save state’s revenue loss."

Petrol and diesel prices were cut for the fifth straight day today on softening international oil prices. Petrol price was cut by 30 paise a litre and diesel by 27 paise, according to the price notification of state-owned oil firms. In Delhi, petrol now costs ₹ 81.34 a litre and diesel is priced at ₹ 74.92 per litre. In Mumbai, petrol is sold for ₹ 86.91 per litre and diesel at ₹ 78.54.

Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.

Share Via