UP petrol outlets' strike enters day 4

Lucknow, Dec 29: Even as hectic efforts have started to evolve an agreement with the striking petroleum outlets,the indefinite strike in Uttar Pradesh today entered its fourth day with consumer experiencing severe problems to run their vehicles.

While the ruling Samajwadi Party has termed the strike 'political' blackmailing of the state government by the petroleum outlet owners assocation, the striking association had denied it.

Meanwhile state chief secretary N C Bajpai has called a meeting of the association this noon to evolve an amicable settlement.

State revenue minister Ambika Choudhury in a statement here alleged that the strike is being backed by opposition political parties to blackmail the governemnt just before the assembly polls.

''The Hike in the price of petroleum products is due to the central policies but an image is being made that the state government is responsible for it,'' he said.

All India Vypar Pratinidhi Mandal president and Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Banwari Lal Kanchal also blamed the UP Petroleum Traders Association for playing in the hands of the opposition parties.

''Mulayam Singh Yadav government has done enough for the traders and this effort by the traders can be termed a back stab,'' he claimed.

However, denying the charges Association president B N Shukla said that his outfit has never linked with any political group and the strike was launched after the state government went back from its commitment.

The strike has affected vehicular traffic in UP with the number of private vehicles on roads being much less than normal, while company-owned petroleum outlets witnessed excessive rush.

About 4,000 outlets in UP are on an indefinite strike since Tuesday, demanding immediate reduction in Trade Tax on petroleum products and keeping it at par with other adjoining states.

The UP Petroleum Traders Association has called for the strike after the Mulayam government failed to accept their demands even after making several assurances.

The Association is demanding the reduction of tax on petrol and diesel from 21 to 12 per cent the same as is being charged in Delhi, Haryana, Uttaranchal and Punjab.

Meanwhile, Association president B N Shukla told UNI there was no move from the UP government to end the strike as the Chief Minister was yet to call traders for any meeting.

''This proves its insensitiveness towards the problem,'' he said.

He claimed the Association had promised the government to cover up the loss of around Rs 800 crore annually for reducing the tax on petro products by enhancing other resources.

''The consumers will benefit if the state government concedes to our demand as petrol and diesel prices in UP will be cheaper by at least Rs 3.50 per litre,'' Mr Shukla said.

He said all the petroleum outlets in UP except those owned by the oil companies were extending support to the agitation and there was no question of withdrawing the strike until the state government accepts their demands.

At present' there are 35 petroleum outlets in the state owned by public sector oil companies, of which two are in the state capital.

''We are forced to take up the path of agitation as our outlets are suffering huge losses mostly in the bordering areas of Delhi and Haryana due to cheap petroleum products there,'' he added.

In the state capital, long queues were witnessed at the two company owned petroleum outlets.

UNI

Related Stories