Petrol pumps in Rajasthan begin two-day strike, demand tax cuts

Rajasthan Petrol Dealers Association says they face losses due to VAT increase (File)

Jaipur (Rajasthan):

The Rajasthan Petrol Dealers Association has announced a “no buy, no sell” strike for the next 48 hours starting from 6 am on Sunday, aiming to draw the government’s attention to the high petrol prices in the state.

SanDeep Bageria, the financial director of the Rajast Tanbang gasoline dealer association, said in an interview with the news agency ANI: ” No Sales” strike. The aim is to draw attention to the government’s response to high gas prices in the state.”

Bageria said petrol pump operators in Rajasthan continue to face losses due to increase in VAT in the state.

“Petrol pump operators continue to face losses due to increase in VAT in Rajasthan. We have been demanding the government to reduce VAT for a long time but no hearings were held. Petrol is sold much cheaper in neighboring states than in Rajasthan.” The biggest problem with demand is that dealer commissions have not increased in the past seven years. Therefore, most of the petrol stations in Rajasthan are on the verge of closure,” he said.

Bageria added: “33% of the dealers in our trade association are on the verge of closing.”

Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise to reduce petrol prices, Bageria said, “PM Modi had promised that the BJP government would reduce petrol prices but such a thing did not happen. VAT on petrol in Rajasthan highest, so this needs to be done to bring the price of gasoline in the state into line with prices in other states.”

He added: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government increased VAT on petrol prices but this has not yet been revised.”

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