Congress does not favour fuel price hike

New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) Amid speculation about a hike in petroleum and diesel prices, the Congress today said it did not want to put any additional burden on the "aam aadmi" (common man).

"The stand of the Congress is clear. We don't want to tax the common man of the country," AICC Spokesman and Union Minister Shakeel Ahmed told mediapersons.

"Of course, prices of oil are fluctuating depending on the international market," he said in reply to a question on how the party viewed the skyrocketing international crude oil prices.

Asked if the government was not under pressure for a hike in oil prices, Mr Ahmed said "it all depends on the Finance and Petroleum Ministry." UNI SH RR GC1841