Tuesday, September 19 2006 17:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Petrol and diesel dealers in Maharashtra Tuesday called off their strike to protest high sales tax levied by the state government after some assurances given to them by Petroleum Minister Murli Deora.

About 2,200 petrol, diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) stations run by members of the Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers' Association had gone on strike Sunday midnight to protest the state's levy of 34 percent sales tax.

"Maharashtra's sales tax is the highest in the country," said the federation's chief Ravi Shindhe, adding that it is 21 percent in neighbouring Goa, 28 percent in Andhra Pradesh and 30 percent in Karnataka.

"We have agreed to take up their issues with the state government. The sales tax is quite high. We have spoken to the chief minister and the finance minister of Maharashtra about this," Deora said in New Delhi.

He gave the assurances during a meeting with some representatives of petrol pump dealers' association. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Petroleum Secretary M.S. Srinivasan also attended the meeting.

Vehicle owners had to wait for hours Monday to get fuel and taxis opted to stay off the roads during non-peak hours because of the agitation, which had a major impact on India's financial capital.