Petrol dealers threaten strike if VAT not brought down

New Delhi, Jun 21 (UNI) Denouncing the Delhi government for imposing a high Value Aadded Tax (VAT) on diesel, making it costlier in the national capital compared to the neighbouring states, Delhi petrol pump dealers today threatened to go on agitation if the VAT on diesel was not brought down to bring its rates on a par with states like Haryana.

Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Petrol Dealers Association said the Delhi government levied high VAT on diesel, while the Haryana government had reduced it from 12 per cent to 8.8 per cent.

''Due to this, Delhi will be losing approximately half of its diesel sales every month, resulting in a huge revenue loss to the dealers and state,'' Delhi Petrol Dealers Association secretary Anil Bijlani told reporters.

With Diesel having become comparatively cheaper in Haryana, a lot of inter-state sale mainly for industrial consumption will be encouraged and all the vehicles tempted to buy diesel from Haryana and enter Delhi. This will adversely affect the country in terms of revenue and environment, Mr Bijlani added.

''We have lost 30 per cent of our sales to Haryana during the past 10 days because fuel costs less there,'' he said.

In this context, he also said UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had asked the Congress-ruled states to reduce VAT on petroleum products to provide some relief to the consumers.

''We will be left with no option, but to agitate if the Delhi government does not reduce VAT on diesel from the present 12 per cent to 8 per cent,'' he underlined..

''We will wait for 7 days for the government to respond...in case, there is no response, we may even go on a strike,'' he said.

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