The Centre criticised the Maharashtra government on Monday for not honouring its promise to bring down high sales tax on petroleum products and said it 'supports' the demand of striking dealers.
"I don't know why the Maharashtra government is not acting on its words. I support the demand of the striking dealers," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters.
Deora, however, said the strike was not a justified solution and the dealers should call it off. "I support their demand but not the strike and I appeal to them to call it off," he said.
Over 2,700 petrol pumps in Maharashtra are back on strike after dealers decided not to make any purchases indefinitely from Monday to press their demand for a reduction in sales tax on fuel products.
The strike comes nearly two months after a similar protest paralysed
petrol distribution in the state for over two days. The state government had then averted an indefinite strike by assuring the dealers of a solution.
Maharashtra records the highest sales tax at 34 per cent compared to neighbouring Goa, which is at a low of 21 per cent. Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat at 28 per cent respectively and Karnataka at 30 per cent.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had agreed in principle to bring down the sales tax, Deora said.
"Even Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had said he would support the move," he said, adding the state government had made a commitment and I don't know why it is not being implemented."
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