UPA calls States to help out public in handling price rise

Guangzhou (China), June 4 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday asked the State governments to come forward and share the likely burden of today's price rise of oil and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).

The Centre increased Petrol price (Rs.5) per litre, Diesel (Rs.3), LPG (Rs.50). However, price of the Kerosene Oil has been kept unchanged. The new price will become effective from Wednesday midnight.

The External Affairs Minister, who is on a four-day visit to China, in an exclusive interview with Asian News International , said "No doubt it will add to the inflation, it will cause sufferings to the consumer that is why we are appealing to the State governments. All the State governments together are collecting rupees 55,000 crores from the consumers all over the country, if they reduce it, it will not help the oil companies but will help the consumers."

"We are increasing rupees 23,000 crores from the price increase. But the State governments through sales tax are getting about 55,000 crores all the states getting together they can also provide relief." By Naveen Kapoor

ANI