Sonia advised Govt not to increase kerosene, LPG prices: Deora

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) Petroleum Minister Murli Deora today said UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has advised the Manmohan Singh-led government not to increase kerosene and domestic LPG prices to protect the interest of the ''common man''.

''Mrs Gandhi has clearly told that prices of poor man's fuel should in no case go up... She is right in not burdening the poor man with an increase and we are following her instructions,''he told reporters after the signing of MoU, on supply of LNG, between the Delhi Government and Petronet LNG Ltd.

He reiterated that the domestic fuel prices will not be affected in view of the fluctuating international prices.

Mr Deora said in June the Government decided to pass only a marginal increase in petrol and diesel to consumers while kerosene and LPG were not touched.

''If the Government can give subsidy on food and fertilisers why not on fuel,'' he added.

He reiterated that the UPA government is committed to protecting common man's interest at all cost.

''Nowhere in the world is kerosene sold at Rs 9 per litre, the fact that we are selling kerosene at the cheapest price in the world shows our resolve of protecting poor man,'' he said.

In June, the ruling UPA coalition had raised petrol price by Rs 4 per litre and diesel by Rs 2 per litre in line with the spike in international oil prices.

Mr Deora said Global prices have since eased but they have not fallen to the level that warrants a cut in domestic retail prices.

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