Petrol pumps to remain shut for six hours in UP on Tuesday

Kanpur: To protest against the VAT hike on petroleum products in the state, all petrol pumps in Uttar Pradesh will remain closed for six hours on Tuesday.

Kanpur Petrol Diesel Dealers Association President Om Prakash Mishra on Saturday said a call for symbolic strike has been given by Uttar Pradesh Petroleum Traders' Association on Tuesday under which petrol pumps will remain closed for six hours.

Following the government's decision to raise VAT, petrol is costlier by Rs 2.90 and diesel by Rs 1.72, he said.

Mishra said the association has put four demands before the government as part of the strike - namely - remove the entry tax on crude oil, remove the minimum rates for VAT, exempt petrol pump dealers from sales tax and end the benefits provided to private companies.