Petroleum dealers have now split into two different groups in protest against the Modi government and petroleum companies for not increasing the commission amount given to dealers for the sale of petrol and diesel for nearly the past 7 years. Whereas the Punjab Petroleum Dealer Association Punjab Doaba Group has announced a complete strike, including not purchasing petrol and diesel from oil companies and shutting down 22 petrol pumps on February 15th. On the other hand, another group of petroleum dealers, the Punjab Petroleum Dealer Association, is claiming not to support any kind of strike planned for February 22nd. Regarding the matter, a video has gone viral on social media in the name of Rajesh Kumar, the secretary of the Punjab Petroleum Dealer Association, where he claims that their association will not support any announcements related to farmer protests or strikes by petroleum dealers. He claims that on February 22nd, a meeting of association officials with oil companies is scheduled in Mumbai, where it is hoped that positive results will come regarding increasing dealers’ commission amount.
It is claimed that some people are misusing the name of the Punjab Petroleum Dealer Association for their banners, while the association has not given any call for a strike.
Meanwhile, another important meeting was held at the local Satluj Club under the chairmanship of Ashok Sachdeva and President Ranjit Singh Gandhi, associated with the Ludhiana Petroleum Dealer Association, where it was decided to completely close petrol pumps on the 22nd. In response to a question during this meeting, Chairman Ashok Sachdeva and President Ranjit Singh Gandhi said that in the first phase, nearly 90% of dealers have not purchased goods from oil companies today, expressing opposition to the Modi government and oil companies. They said that fighting for one’s rights is the birthright of every individual. In this regard, petroleum dealers have repeatedly warned state and central governments, including senior officials of petroleum companies, by submitting memorandums, including shutting down petrol pumps, regarding their demands, especially regarding the commission amount received on the sale of oil, over the past 7 years, but senior officials have turned a deaf ear to their pleas.
