Around 4,900 petrol pump stations across Madhya Pradesh remained closed for 7 pm to 9 pm on Wednesday in order to oppose the cut in excise duty on petrol and diesel.

The Madhya Pradesh Petroleum Dealers Association said that if their demand would not be accepted, they would go on indefinite strike. There are around 152 petrol pumps in state capital Bhopal and around 9 lakh liter of petrol and 12 lakh liter of diesel get sold everyday. During evening hours, most of petrol station witness rush of customers. As petrol pumps were closed during evening hours, many people face inconvenience.

Their major demands are allow refund of excise duty that is sumitted in advance on old stock and fix the commission sale price as 5 per cent. They are also demanding to fix the new rate from year 2017.

Though people get sigh of relief after centre reduced the excise duty that resulted into petrol cheaper by Rs 9 and diesel by Rs 7 per liter but petrol pumps have set their mind to demonstrate. Petrol pump owners said that they are suffering loss on old stock as they have already paid higher duties on this stock.

Madhya Pradesh Petroleum Dealers Association has warned the Indian Oil Corporation Limited regarding the issue. The association president Ajay Singh said that demand has been put before state level coordinators of petrol pump dealers in Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum to enhance the amount.

According to reports, on November 4 -5, 2021 midnight, Government reduced excise duty on petrol by Rs 10 and diesel by Rs 15 per liter. On May 22, 2022 petrol price was reduced by Rs 9:50 per liter and diesel by Rs 7 per liter. Dealers said that they are happy with the price slash but after deducting the excise duty, they are facing loss of 12 to 15 lakhs. They said, when they purchase diesel and petrol they submit the excise duty amount in advance. They said that they have paid the higher duties on old stock which is giving them financial burden.