Auto fuel dealers divided on Sept 20 strike

Petrol pump dealers are divided over the timing of the strike slated for September 20.

While Ajay Bansal, general secretary of the Federation of All India Petroleum Traders claimed he had received confirmation from 28 state associations, managing committee member Ravi Shinde said 14 states have decided not to participate in the strike.

Bansal told Business Standard: “Those who will not join the strike will attract disciplinary action. I have confirmation from 28 state associations. I reiterate that majority of the petrol pumps across the country will be closed from 6 am on September 20, barring a few in Gujarat and Mumbai. There will be no sale and purchase of auto fuel in these petrol pumps.”

He alleged that the decontrol of petrol was just on paper, as every now and then oil marketing companies are approaching the petroleum ministry for seeking assistance.

He said discussions with the petroleum secretary and officials of OMCs failed and their demands on fixing a margin for dealers on percentage basis and removal of penalty provision in marketing discipline norms were not addressed. Further, there was no plan to decontrol diesel.

However, Shinde said 14 states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and the north eastern states, at their meeting held on September 8, have decided not to join the strike.

“The timing is quite wrong, especially when the Commonwealth Games are going to start next month. These states have argued that one problem in regard to increase in margin has been resolved by the petroleum minister and other issues relating to percentage based margin, change in marketing discipline guidelines and the ministry’s decision to encourage addition of another 62,000 petrol pumps across the country can be taken up for negotiations,” he said.

Shinde argued the present provision of a penalty was not acceptable to petrol pump dealers, as it was against the provisions of the Constitution.