Petrol pump strike withdrawn

Mumbai, Nov 22 (UNI) Petrol pump owners in the state have called off their strike, which was into its third day today, after a meeting with Finance Minister Jayant Patil.

The petrol pump owners, numbering around 2700, had launched an indefinite strike since the midnight on Monday last. The petrol pump owners were demanding a revision in the sales tax which, at present, is charged at 34 per cent. The sales tax should be reduced and brought down on par with the tax charged in the neighbouring states, the petrol pump owners were demanding.

Yesterday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had assured that the demand would be considered sympathetically during the Cabinet meeting to be held on November 24. A similar assurance was made by the Finance Minister today following which the pump owners have called off their strike, official sources said.

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