JOIN USA smiling Alka Sahni, owner of a petrol pump in the heart of Delhi’s Connaught Place area, complied with an directive last week by the All India Petroleum Dealers’ Association for a 15-minute ‘blackout’ from 7 pm to 7.15pm on October 26.
This was the first of the three phases of a month-long nationwide agitation called by the AIPDA to draw the attention of the three major state-run petroleum companies — Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum — towards various outstanding issues faced by the dealers such as reducing profit margins and ethanol blending.
All lights at Sahni’s petrol pump were switched-off and sales suspended for 15 minutes.
“A few more minutes,” she requested a motorcycle owner, who was among the few consumers waiting for the minute hand of his watch to cross the magic mark of 15.
“We hope that through this peaceful agitation, the oil companies take our demands and concerns seriously,” Sahni said and added that despite repeated assurances, the companies have only let dealers down.
“Our demands are legitimate. Expenses and wages have increased but the companies have not increased our commission,” she complained.
“It is the oil companies which blend fuel with high levels of ethanol, which often damages vehicles. Many times, we have had to face the brunt of our customers, who blame us for damaging their vehicles,” she elaborated on the issue of ethanol blending.
Most of Sahni’s workers seemed aware about the causes of the agitation and openly supported it. “If the companies pay the dealers more, they will be able to do more for us,” said a worker.
At the same time, there was another petrol pump — situated right across Sahni’s pump — which did not comply with the AIPDA directive.
“You have to ask them why they are not participating,” said the 45-year-old Sahni.
Deccan Herald approached the non-complying petrol pump and asked about the AIPDA order. A worker, on condition of anonymity, said, “Who are we to decide? We only follow what our owner tells us to do.”
Most consumers said they were happy to wait for 15 minutes. Those who were not, turned their vehicles around to the opposite petrol pump.
“Fifteen minutes is quite a lot in this cosmopolitan age,” laughed the aforementioned motorcycle owner and added, “I’d rather wait than burn fuel battling traffic.”
When asked about ambulances and vehicles carrying sick patients, Sahni said, “We will, of course, make an exception for them.”
However, most consumers were unaware of the AIPDA’s agitation in the first place. When informed, a consumer said, “A petrol pump strike would impact daily lives. I hope they resolve their issues soon.”
Ajay Bansal, AIPDA told DH that the three major state-run oil companies — Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum — did contact him in the last few days.
“The directors of these companies have requested us to participate in talks. Howeve
r, there is no concrete proposal from their side. They have also not mentioned a date and time,” the AIPDA chief said.
Bansal also said that he is open to the Centre’s intervention to resolving outstanding demands of the dealers.
“Even in the past, we had requested the Centre to intervene. It decides the policies and decisions,” he stated.
“Our intention is not to hurt the consumers. Oil manufacturing companies have deliberately not paid attention to our justified demands over the last two years. They have left us with no choice,” the AIPDA chief explained.
As per the AIPDA’s month-long agitation, the first phase included a 15-minute blackout by petrol pumps across the country on October 19 and October 26. On November 3, the protest will move on to the second phase where petrol pump dealers will boycott purchases from oil companies. Finally, on November 15, nearly 53,000 petrol pumps across the country may suspend sales and go on a 24-hour long strike.
“Based on the response state-run oil companies, the association will further decide whether or not there is a need to undertake an indefinite strike or any other form of agitation,” the AIPDA chief said.