Petroleum minister Murli Deora has appealed to petrol pump dealers in Maharashtra to call off their indefinite strike, which started on Monday. | |
| Petrol pump dealers in the state are protesting the high sales tax levied by the state on auto fuels, which, they claimed, was driving business to other states. |
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| Sales tax in Maharashtra is the highest in the country with the state charging 34% sales tax on diesel. |
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| Deora said the Central government is sympathetic to the dealers' demands for reduction in sales tax rates, and the issue has been raised with the Maharashtra government. |
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| "I strongly appeal to the dealers to immediately call off their strike," he said. |
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| Deora has also facilitated a meeting between representatives of retail outlet dealers of Maharashtra with the chief minister on this issue. |
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