Jaipur: Petrol and diesel supply has come to a halt at numerous petrol pumps in Rajasthan today, October 1, as a result of a strike initiated by the Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association in Jaipur. The strike, which began at 6 AM and will last until 6 PM, follows a call by the association. If their demands are not met, all petrol pump operators in Rajasthan have warned of an indefinite strike starting from October 2, during which no petrol or diesel will be purchased or sold.

On the evening of September 30, all fuel pump operators in Rajasthan suspended the sale and supply of petrol and diesel between 8 PM and 10 PM, causing considerable inconvenience to the public. Earlier in September, Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas engaged with officials from the Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association, agreeing to address their demands and requesting a 10-day study by a high-level committee. However, when the response failed to materialize even after the stipulated time, the strike was called.

Rajendra Singh Bhati, president of the Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association, expressed, "The government had committed to resolving the issue of rising VAT on petrol and diesel within 10 days. But even after 13 days, no solution has been presented. Disappointed by this, we will observe a strike from 6 AM to 6 PM on October 1. If no action is taken even after this, then we will go on an indefinite strike from October 2."

The Treasurer of the Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association mentioned, "Approximately 7,000 fuel pumps will remain non-operational statewide, with around 100 cocoa pumps being an exception. In Jaipur, the sale of petrol and diesel will persist at seven cocoa pumps. If the government does not resolve the situation, the entire state’s pumps will embark on an indefinite strike starting from 6 AM on October 2. This strike will significantly impact daily sales, including approximately 15,231 kiloliters of diesel and 68,859 kiloliters of petrol. Consequently, the government is anticipated to incur a daily revenue loss of approximately Rs 44 crore."

The VAT on petrol and diesel in Rajasthan is notably higher than in neighboring states. For instance, petrol costs around Rs 14 more per liter in Sri Ganganagar compared to Punjab, and the diesel price difference is Rs 10 per liter compared to Punjab. This has not only burdened the general public but also led to substantial losses for pump operators. During negotiations, Minister Khachariyawas agreed to three demands, which included bringing petrol and diesel under the GST, raising the commission for petrol pump operators, and establishing paper depots in Hanumangarh and Ganganagar. However, the government failed to respond within the stipulated time. It’s noteworthy that petrol and diesel prices in Rajasthan are significantly higher than those in its neighboring states such as Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

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