THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Dhanbad, Aug 9: Rattled by the apathetic attitude of the government on long pending demands, the petroleum dealers of Jharkhand will hold a meeting in Ranchi on August 16 to decide the course of agitation.
Plan to demonstrate before CM House
If all members endorse the stir proposal, the dealers will hold a massive demonstration before the House of Chief Minister and Raj Bhawan on the same day in support of their five points pending issues.
Rolling out the agitation programme, Coalfield Petroleum Dealers Association (CPDA) general secretary Sanjeev Rana said that dealers of the state will assemble early morning in Ranchi on August 16 and first discuss the stir.
“Since demands are related to the state and central governments, the association has planned to hold a demonstration before the CM house and thereafter in front of the Raj Bhawan,” said Sanjeev Rana.
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Demand to slash VAT to 18 per cent from 22 per cent
The CPDA general secretary said the main demand of the association is the reduction of VAT to 18% from 22% which has pushed to shut down many refilling stations. The association handed over a memorandum to the state government many times in past but no action has been taken in this regard.
Exemption from filing VAT returns
The State Petroleum Dealers Association has also been demanding dealers be made free from filing VAT returns. “Since petroleum lubricant comes under GST, there is no need to file VAT returns. The Bihar government has already exempted dealers from return filing. So, we demand the same action from the Jharkhand government,” he added.
The CPDA general secretary said that since 2017 commission margin to dealers has not been revised. Since the matter comes under the central government, Jharkhand’s dealers will demonstrate before the Raj Bhawan and hand over a memorandum to the Governor for the central government.
In the wake of the proposed August 16 Ranchi demonstration, petroleum dealers across the state have begun postering at all refilling stations.
