Amidst rising fuel prices, Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) announced that they would be observing a one-day strike in the national capital on October 22. The DPDA said that 400 petrol pumps would remain closed on Monday in their protest against the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, who has refused to cut VAT on petrol and diesel.

The DPDA’s statement read, “There are about 400 petrol pumps in Delhi which also have linked CNG pumps with them. Both will remain closed in protest from 6.00 am onwards on October 22 and remain closed till 5.00 am on October 23, 2018.”

The statement mentioned that the states (Uttar Pradesh and Haryana) bordering Delhi have reduced VAT, resulting in lowering of petrol and diesel prices, eventually. However, the government in Delhi has refused to lessen the VAT in the national capital, which has resulted in high fuel prices.

Due to the lowering of VAT in both the states, the petrol prices in UP and Haryana are lowered by Rs 2.59 and Rs 1.95, whereas the diesel prices by Rs. 2.02 and Rs. 1.72 respectively.

The statement also said that because of high prices in Delhi and lower prices in the neighbouring states of UP and Haryana, people are not opting the petrol pumps in Delhi, which has led to a loss in sales.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a press conference on October 4, slashed prices of both petrol and diesel by Rs. 2.50, by reducing the excise duty. Several states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh among others were quick to follow suit, which resulted in lowered fuel prices.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 17, 2018 05:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).