The Oil Sectors Officers Association (OSOA) has announced to call off strike with immediate effect following threats of stern action against striking officers of oil sector companies by Union Government.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Union Cabinet have taken tough stance against officers that prompted OSOA to re-think on strike.

The employees of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Oil India Limited called off their strike by noon and Indian Oil Corporation and Gas Authority of India Limited Unions' followed the footsteps to avoid government's crackdown on agitating officers.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora said that managements and employees of HPCL, IOC, BPCL and ONGC will be working on Saturday and Sunday to compensate loss caused due to inefficient supply of fuel and gas throughout the nation. The Union Minister added, "It is unfortunate that the agitating PSU officers unions' took so long to end the strike."

Earlier, the decision to deploy Army at certain strategic locations was taken at meeting of the Crisis Management Group headed by Cabinet Secretary K. M. Chandrasekhar.

Some states also imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act and the National Security Act to deal with striking officers.