Around 400 petrol pumps in the Indian capital have shut today in protest against the Delhi government’s refusal to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel prices. The strike that began at 6 am today will continue till 5 am on Tuesday. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleges it is a “BJP sponsored strike”.
Oil prices lowest in Delhi amongst the four metros. Why aren’t petrol pumps in Mumbai, which has highest prices, on strike? Becoz Mumbai is BJP govt and BJP is behind today’s strike in Delhi. BJP MUST apologize to the people of Delhi pic.twitter.com/v5BUI0cfRG
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 22, 2018
The BJP, hit back at CM Kejriwal holding him “responsible for the mess Delhi is facing today.”
“It is regrettable that due to the obstinate attitude of Kejriwal Government, today the people of Delhi, have to purchase Petrol-Diesel from the neighbouring states as Petrol-Diesel is more costly in Delhi. Mr. Kejriwal is fully responsible for the mess Delhi is facing today,” the party’s Delhi unit tweeted.
It is regrettable that due to the obstinate attitude of Kejriwal Government, today the people of Delhi, have to purchase Petrol-Diesel from the neighbouring states as Petrol-Diesel is more costly in Delhi. Mr. Kejriwal is fully responsible for the mess Delhi is facing today. pic.twitter.com/ZB68rvAZnz
— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) October 22, 2018
Meanwhile, auto-rickshaw and taxis in the national capital will also be off roads in protest against the Delhi government’s policies on cab aggregators. A section of app-based taxis like Uber, Ola will also join the protest against the policies of the cab aggregators that they say are not in their favor.
The petrol pump protest is called by the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association which claimed that commuters were deserting fuel pumps in Delhi due to reduced VAT in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
“The Centre had slashed the rate of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre each on September 4. This was followed by a reduction of VAT by various states, including neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. But, the Delhi government refused to reduce VAT, resulting in fuel becoming more expensive than bordering Haryana and Uttar Pradesh,” PTI quoted DPDA president Nischal Singhania as having said.
Urging the Arvind Kejriwal-led government to immediately reduce VAT on petrol and diesel, Singhania said it was also leading to loss of revenue. “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,” the statement said.
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