Aizawl: Commercial vehicle owners in Mizoram have announced an indefinite strike starting October 23, demanding a reduction in fuel prices.
Stating that the hike in fuel prices has affected not only commercial vehicles but also the general public, the commercial vehicle owners have been demanding a reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 5 per litre each, which were hiked on September 1 this year.
The government hiked VAT on petrol from 5.23 per cent to 10 per cent and on diesel from 16.36 percent to 18 percent. Apart from VAT hike, the government also imposed a new levy of Rs 2 per litre on both diesel and petrol for social infrastructure and services cess, alongside an additional Rs 2 per litre for road maintenance.
Accordingly, petrol prices in Mizoram have been raised from Rs 93.68 to Rs 99.24 per litre, while diesel prices have been increased to Rs 88.02 from Rs 82.62 per litre.
The Mizoram government, after a cabinet meeting on October 17, announced it would not roll back the hike in fuel prices.
Initially, the commercial vehicle owners had decided to go on an indefinite strike from October 14. However, they decided to postpone their stir after Chief Minister Lalduhoma urged them to be patient and wait till the cabinet meeting on October 16.
The Mizoram government claimed that the hike in fuel prices was for social infrastructure and road maintenance, which is for the welfare and benefit of the people.
A statement issued by Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Union (MCVU) said that the meeting of the union held on Saturday decided that all commercial vehicles will remain off the roads for an indefinite period from October 23 as the state cabinet had decided not to reduce prices of petrol and diesel.
ALSO READ: No rollback on fuel prices in Mizoram: Chief Minister Lalduhoma
Earlier, the union had also acceded to the request of the NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC), a conglomerate of major civil societies and student organizations, to cancel its proposed strike from October 14 as the chief minister informed the committee that the government was mulling to reduce the fuel prices and that the order hiking fuel prices will be kept in abeyance till the cabinet meeting, the statement said.
