Farmers extend support to petro dealers

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 17

The Petrol Pump Dealers Association, Punjab, along with Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal), Transporters Union and industrialists today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner seeking reduction in VAT on petrol and diesel to bring it on par with Chandigarh and with neighbouring states.

Farmers and petrol pump dealers gathered in front of the DC Office to protest against the high fuel prices in the state due to higher VAT rates.

Monty Sehgal, spokesperson for the association, Sukhmohan Sehgal and members of farmer unions, along with others, submitted the memorandum.

Paramjit Singh Doaba, president of the association, along with Dr Manjit Singh, general secretary, and Ranjit Singh Gandhi, treasurer, along with core executive members, also presented the memorandum to Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal.

The association and the farmer unions had been protesting to decrease the fuel prices. Now, both unions have joined hands to put pressure on the government ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The association had earlier protested against the issue before the 2017 Assembly elections, wherein Praneet Kaur, the then MLA, gave assurance to Paramjit Doaba, who was sitting on a hunger strike, of bringing down the fuel prices if the Congress comes to power. The delegation was also assured the same by Capt Amarinder Singh during the meeting before the Assembly elections. However, after winning the elections, the Congress too has not heeded to the petrol pump dealers’ demands, especially border dealers who have lost their livelihoods after the recent decrease in prices by Chandigarh and neighbouring states.