Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Monday ruled out any rollback in the increased prices of petroleum products, saying the hike has been reasonable and minimum. "The hike is reasonable and minimum ...," Deora told reporters here.
The government last month increased prices of petrol and diesel by up to Rs 3.50 a litre and that of LPG and kerosene oil by Rs 35 a cylinder and Rs 3 a litre, triggering protests by the opposition parties.
Deora said that the govenrment will try to convince the Opposition on the necessity of the hike if it raises the issue in the monsoon session of Parliament.
The Opposition is likely to corner the government on the issues such as fuel price hike during the monsoon session of Parliament beginning next week. Asked if the state governments have a role in reducing prices, Deora said that they have a role and pointed to the reduction of VAT on diesel by the Delhi government last week.
The government last month freed petrol from pricing controls resulting in a rise of Rs 3.50 a litre in prices of the fuel.
The minister indicated that the government will not allow the oil companies arbitrarily increase the prices.
