India: Petroleum dealers to go on one-day token strike

PATNA: The Bihar Petroleum Dealers' Association on Sunday decided to observe one-day token strike on October 3 if the state government failed to withdraw its notification imposing additional tax and surcharge on the products by September 30.

The Association threatened to go on an indefinite strike from October 9 onwards just after the Durga Puja to protest against the state government's failure to keep its committment regarding turn over tax (TOT). This decision was taken at an Executive Committee meeting of the Association held here on Sunday.

Expressing dissatisfaction and displeasure over the state goverment's indifferent attitude towards meeting the committment given to the Association, the general secretary of the Association, Amit Mukherji, said that they had been left with no choice but to resort to agitation.

He said that they had withdrawn the earlier strike calls on the repeated assurance given by the state authorities. Imposition of additional taxes and surcharge would mean a burden of at least Rs 5000 per month which was very heavy for an average dealer who managed to make a profit of barely Rs 60,000 in an year.

Reliable sources said that the commercial taxes minister had agreed to meet the demands of the dealers but the final decision could not be taken since the concerned file is lying in the finance department.

http://www.timesofindia.com/260900/26mpat6.htm

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), September 26, 2000