Jalandhar, 10 October(Parteek Mahal): The United Petroleum Front(UPF) formed on a national level, which constitutes three national bodies FAIPT, AIPDA and CIPD have asked 54000 dealers across the country to maintain a one-day closure on 13 October to protest against the OMCs for their long pending demands from the public sector oil marketing companies(OMCs).
Paramjit Singh Doaba, President of Petrol Pump Dealer Association Punjab(PPDAP) said on the call of UPF Punjab state associations will mark a 24 hours closure of sales in all over the state. He said we demand petroleum products should be brought under GST so that our long pending demand of one nation one rate can be fulfilled. There are different rates of petrol and diesel in different states adjoining to each other, where rates are high petroleum products are sold in black by the mafia, if there will be one rate in all over the country it will benefit customers as well and it will stop the black marketing of petrol and diesel. He said in second demand, the daily change in the petroleum prices policy needs to be reconsidered as it has not benefited consumers and dealers so far, it should be same as in previous policy where rates changed fortnightly not on daily bases.
Doaba has slammed OMCs for increasing the licence fees 10 times and the commission to dealers was only increased 5 to 6 paisa. He said all the letters addressed by the three associations during last 11 months to resolve these issues continues to remain flaunted by the OMCs. He said a dealers meeting was held in Mumbai on 7 October and it was resolved to go on one day strike against OMCs and if their demanded are not fulfilled they will go on the indefinite closure of purchase and sale from 27 October till the trade anomalies are resolved. He said our business is in very difficult shape so if they do not listen to our demands its better we should remain close.