Cong-backed petrol pump owners refuse to join strike

Congress-backed petrol pump owners have announced that they will not support the July 13 strike call given by the association. Raman Kumat,who owns a HPCL pump at Daudhar village and is also a member of the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee,said,“The association that has called the strike does not enjoy the support of all members. The present PPDA is a group of people who are trying to meet their vested interests through such calls. Moreover,the call for strike is unjustified and we want to call upon all well-meaning petroleum dealers to not to participate in an act that will cause undue harassment to the common man.”

He said,“Consumption of diesel in Punjab is almost ten times that of petrol. Diesel is sold at cheapest rate in India,though petrol prices in Punjab are the second highest. Change in petrol taxes,if at all is done,has to be done without tinkering with diesel tax structure. Any increase in diesel taxes will put unbearable burden on farmers,transporters and industrialists.”

Kumar added that octroi on diesel should continue,as it was an assured source of income to create and maintain urban infrastructure and its removal will cause shift of rural consumers to urban outlets,causing more rural-based petrol pumps to close down. Kumar said,“The PPDA has to rework and re-engage,so that broad participation is ensured and then all issues are discussed openly before consensus is developed. Drawing room discussion are not going to work any more.”