JOIN USDays after a group of petroleum dealers said it will shut down petrol pumps every Sunday, the Karnataka State Federation of Petroleum Dealers has opposed the call for agitation, leading to confusion.
“We are dealing with essential commodities and any lapse in service not only harms the public but is also against the law. The same opinion was expressed at the All India Petroleum Dealers’ Association meeting held on May 6,” president of the federation H S Manjappa said in a press release.
He also called upon the dealers in Karnataka not to go with the call for agitation given by “some circles” to close the pumps on Sundays or work single shift as announced. “All dealers are requested to operate as usual, without any confusion,” he said.
The Karnataka Federation of Petroleum Traders said on Thursday that petrol pumps will be closed every Sunday starting next week and all the 3,000 pumps in the state will operate for 12 hours during daytime from May 15.
The move was to protest against the anomalies in the dealers’ commission. Federation president B R Ravindranath had said the Centre has failed to settle several issues pertaining to dealers’ commission pending for years. “We don’t know what will happen in other areas. Petrol pumps in Bengaluru and the surrounding areas will be closed on Sundays and work single-shift every day after May 15. We believe a similar situation will prevail in many districts in the southern part of the state,” Ravindranath said.
Commenting on the opposition to the call for agitation, he said vested interests were trying to divide the petroleum dealers. “We are not asking for anything illegal. We are asking the government to give us what it promised. Our unity threatens them. So, they want this agitation to fail,” he said.
DH News Service