Union Minister Murli Deora persuades petroleum dealers to defer strike

New Delhi : Petroleum dealers on Saturday announced of deferring their indefinite strike from September 20 following assurances from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas that their demands will be looked into.

The decision to defer the strike was taken following a meeting between Union minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora, his junior minister Jitin Prasada, top officials of the ministry and representatives of the Federation of All India petroleum Traders? Associaition.

A spokesperson of the petroleum dealers? body said that it was agreed that a committee would be constituted to look into the demand of the dealers for a commission of 5 per cent of the retail price of the products against the fixed rates at present.

The committee will submit its report within three months.

On the dealers? opposition to more petrol bunks, it was decided that the oil companies would open new retail outlets, if needed, with proper permission from the Ministry.

Regarding another demand of the dealers for a uniform retail price of automobile fuels across the country, the meeting agreed that the Ministry would approach the Finance Ministry since the issue involved government levies.