Jaipur, May 28 -- Petrol pump operators have warned of a statewide strike from June 1, accusing the state government of failing to alleviate the administrative pressure and operational difficulties they face amid rising fuel prices. The Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association, in a memorandum sent to chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, said that fuel pump operators were being subject to constant public harassment and financial stress. The association warned that if the government did not hold talks to address their issues before June 1, pump operators would launch a statewide strike. Association president Rajendra Singh Bhati said that both pump operators and consumers were increasingly burdened, whether by operational pressure or transportation costs. He demanded a reduction in the current value-added tax (VAT) imposed on petrol and diesel, claiming that the current tax structure in Rajasthan simultaneously increased inflation while boosting government revenue. "Rajasthan currently imposes 29.04% VAT on petrol and 17.30% on diesel. Since the tax is based on percentage, any increase in fuel prices automatically raises the state government's revenue collection," he said. The association said that global tensions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict have led to a spike in international crude oil prices, which spurred subsequent fuel price hikes in India on May 15 and May 19. It argued that diesel prices directly affected transportation and supply chain costs, and led to basic commodities becoming more expensive. "After the latest fuel price hike, the Rajasthan government's earnings increased by nearly 95 paise per litre on petrol and 58 paise per litre on diesel," said the memorandum. It also urged the state government to consider cutting road cess on fuel to provide relief to consumers. The memorandum also referred to the Centre's earlier decision to reduce excise duty on fuel from Rs.13 to Rs.3 per litre and on diesel from Rs.10 to 0 to provide relief to the public, and sought a similar approach from the state government....