All Petrol Pumps in Delhi to Stay Shut Today, Kejriwal Blames BJP

The 400-odd petrol pumps will remain closed from 6 am on Monday, 22 October, to 5 am on Tuesday, 23 October.

All 400-odd petrol pumps along with linked CNG dispensing units in the national capital will remain shut on Monday, 22 October, in protest against Delhi government's refusal to reduce VAT on fuels, the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) said in a statement.

There are about 400 petrol pumps in Delhi which also have linked compressed natural gas (CNG) stations and all of them will remain closed for nearly 24 hours in protest, from 6 am onwards, on 22 October and remain closed till 5 am on 23 October, it said.

Responding to the news of the petrol pumps being closed, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, called it a “BJP sponsored strike”.

Petrol pump owners hv told us privately that this is a BJP sponsored strike, actively supported by oil cos. In fact, BJP has thrust it upon petrol pump owners. People will give BJP a befitting reply in elections for continuously inconveniencing people thro their dirty politics. https://t.co/S8pLZNbIOw

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 21, 2018

Earlier, the DPDA president Nischal Singhania had said, "The central government had slashed the rate of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre each on 4 September. This was followed by reduction of VAT (value added tax) by various states, including neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, bringing relief to their residents.

...The Delhi government refused to reduce VAT on fuel both petrol and diesel, resulting in fuel becoming more expensive than bordering Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

DPDA president Nischal Singhania

In comparison to Delhi, fuel rates in bordering states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are cheaper, he said.

Due to difference in prices, there has been a sharp drop of 50-60 percent in sale of diesel in Delhi and 25 percent in petrol in this quarter, the DPDA president said, adding that on Monday, all the 400 pumps of Delhi will neither purchase nor sell petrol, diesel and CNG.

Because of high price in Delhi and low prices in states like UP and Haryana, customers are deserting the petrol pumps in Delhi leading to huge drop in sales, Singhania said.

He said the festival season is peak season for the sale of fuel due to social travelling by residents.

"DPDA urges the Delhi government to immediately reduce VAT on petrol and diesel and encourage commuters to buy euro VI fuel and save the livelihood of employees and owners of petrol pumps of Delhi and also save state's revenue loss," the statement said.

(With inputs from PTI)