Live Updates: All 400 Petrol, CNG pumps in Delhi go on strike

ANI photo

New Delhi: All 400 petrol pumps and CNG dispensing units will remain shut from 6 am on Monday till 5 am on Tuesday in protest against Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government`s refusal to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel and petrol in the national capital.

The 23-hour shutdown has been called by Delhi Petrol Dealers Association and is supported by taxi and auto associations.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the strike was politically motivated and sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On October 4, the central government slashed fuel prices by Rs. 2.50 after curbing excise duty on the commodity by Rs 1.50 per litre. The decision was backed by several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, which reduced local sales tax or the VAT. 

However, 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.

Here are the live updates:

22 October 2018

12:18 IST

Kejriwal hit out at the BJP and held them responsible for the strike in Delhi. He claimed that despite the petrol prices being the lowest in Delhi across the four metros, there is a strike in the national capital and not anywhere else. Read more here.

09:35 IST

Commuters face problem in booking Ola and Uber cabs. However, yellow-and-black taxis and autos are plying on roads.

09:33 IST

#Visuals from a petrol pump in Delhi as a protest has been called by Delhi Petrol Dealers Association against Delhi govt’s refusal to reduce VAT on diesel & petrol. All 400 petrol pumps along with linked CNG dispensing units will remain shut from 6 am today to 5 am tomorrow pic.twitter.com/rj0nKsLe3d

— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2018

09:29 IST

Delhi CM Kejriwal alleged that BJP is behind the 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

09:23 IST

Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA), in a statement, said, "The central government 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 bringing relief to their residents. But Delhi government refused to reduce VAT on fuel both petrol and diesel resulting in fuel becoming more expensive than bordering Haryana and Uttar Pradesh."