Delhi Fuel Pump Strike HIGHLIGHTS: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged it was a “BJP sponsored strike”. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
Around 400 petrol pumps in the national capital are shut today in protest against the Delhi government’s refusal to reduce Value Added Tax on fuel prices. The strike that began at 6 am today will continue till 6 am on Tuesday. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleges it is a “BJP sponsored strike”.
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 favour.
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.
In Pictures | Commuters in Delhi left stranded after autos, taxis go on strike
* Diesel and petrol should be brought under GST
* MCD toll tax must be removed from Delhi registered taxis
* The app-based cab fares must be quoted by the government and not the company
* The colour of the yellow cabs should remain same
* App-based taxi's commissions should be brought down to 5% instead of the present 25 per cent
* The daily instalment rates of Ola lease should be brought down
* The drivers should retain the vehicles run by Ola after the lease is finished
The black and yellow cabs in Delhi, tourist taxis and a section of cabs working under app-aggregators Ola and Uber will today stage a protest in front of the Parliament. The Delhi Taxi Tourist Transport Association alleged that the policies of the central government is killing the profession and that it may lead to the suicides of drivers. The protest is also against the alleged exploitation by Ola and Uber which make the drivers work for "10 to 12 hours." The taxis are also opposing the rising fuel prices in the country
(Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
(Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
The auto-rickshaw and taxi unions have decided to protest against the Delhi government's policies on cab aggregators. "The one-day 'Chakka Jaam' protest by the Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti will be held as the government failed to listen to our grievances," said Inderjeet Singh, chairman of the All India Tour and Transport Association and convener of the joint forum. "Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are losing their employment due to wrong transport policies of the government and also due to low fares offered to commuters by cab aggregators," he told PTI.
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.
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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the BJP was behind the strike in the city today. Adding that the petrol prices in the national capital are lowest among the metros in the country, Kejriwal questioned why pumps in Mumbai - where the price is highest among the four cities- are not shut in protest.
The strike has been called after the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government refused to to reduce Value Added Tax on fuel prices. The 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 fuel pumps were shut today morning and will reopen at 5am tomorrow.
Goodmorning. Commuters in Delhi are in a limbo as auto and taxi drivers have gone on a strike today to protest against the Delhi government’s policies on cab aggregators. Fuel pumps in the city will also remain shut till tomorrow. Follow this space to track the latest developments in the national capital