INDIA’S government denied on Monday it was considering shutting filling stations at night to reduce oil imports, a widely ridiculed measure reportedly under discussion to tackle a deepening economic crisis.
Oil Minister Veerappa Moily sparked the speculation on Sunday (September 1) when he told a local news agency that “shutting petrol pumps during (the) night” was one of several austerity measures being assessed to cut the imports bill.
News of the proposal, a throwback to India’s pre-liberalisation past when the government tightly regulated all parts of the economy, sparked feverish debate on television and Twitter.
It also apparently took the rest of the cabinet by surprise, leading to a formal denial issued via the information ministry.
“The ministry of petroleum and natural gas has clarified that there is no proposal under consideration of the government to allow sale of petroleum products from the retail outlets only during certain hours,” said a statement.
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made fun of the plan.
“Won’t the people fill their car fuel tanks in the morning? This is a strange move by Moily,” BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said.
