KOCHI: Petrol and diesel pumps across the state will be closed on October 13 as part of a one-day nationwide token strike by petroleum dealers against the government’s policy of revising the fuel prices everyday leading to unprecedented increase in prices. If the government and the oil marketing companies fail to address the issues raised by the dealers, an indefinite closure of the pumps will begin from October 27.
A decision was taken in this regard during a meeting of United Petroleum Front held in Mumbai on Saturday, comprising national bodies of the petroleum dealers in the country. The main demands of the dealers included a reduction in the price of petroleum products in proportion to the fall in crude oil price, putting an end to excess profiteering by oil marketing companies, reversal of the government policy of protecting private oil companies and black laws in the marketing guidelines for dealers, said R. Sabarinath and M.M. Basheer of Kerala State Petroleum Traders’ Association.
