BKU to continue sit-ins at Reliance, ESSAR fuel stations

BATHINDA : The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-ugrahan) on Saturday announced to continue to force the closure of the fuel stations associated with Reliance and ESSAR groups as it refused to accede to the demand to lift the ongoing dharnas outside their outlets.

It came after an hour- long meeting between the farmer union leaders and the representatives and owners of these fuel stations.

BKU state secretary Shingara Singh Mann said, “We listened to a delegate of fuel stations owners. The BKU is against the presence of corporate sector in the rural economy. But we are sympathetic to the concerns of individuals getting affected due to the indefinite dharna. The agitation will continue for now. Their demands will be put taken up by the state executive next week.”

Retail fuel outlets in the state, particularly the Malwa region where the BKU (Ekta-ugrahan) has a significant base, are closed since October 1. The dealers said they are suffering financial losses and the state government should intervene to end the deadlock.

Iqbal Singh Dhillon, an Akali leader who operates a Reliance fuel station on the national highway- 7 near Bhucho said, “We are running legitimate businesses. The farmers have the right to protest but entrepreneurs’ interests should also be protected.”

Another dealer, who met the trade union leaders, said they cannot take responsibility of the staff since the business was adversely affected.

“During the lockdown period, the business was also affected but we took the responsibility of the staff during the pandemic outbreak. When business was limping back to normal in the unlock phase, this agitation has jolted us. It will take months to get back customers who are avoiding filling stations associated with the two corporate houses,” he said.