Aam aadmi to suffer, no possibility of fall in petrol prices

Mumbai, Sep 18: Expressing views over the current petrol price hike, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sep 17 said that government can't do much to control them since it is a time when global crude prices are high.

Mukherjee said that during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)"s rule between 1998 and 2004, international crude prices hovered between $24 and$36 while they have now gone up to $113.

The price hike would affect the commoners, that led to protest in Uttar Pradesh. Also, on other hand the UPA allies DMK, TMC, NCP demanded a reduction in the increase of petrol prices.

The government has decided to increase the petrol prices by Rs 3.14 per litre, that has led to immense criticism across tha nation. The opposition as well as the allies have demanded a rollback.

Responding to such criticisms, Pranad said,“Those who are criticising us, they should also remember that it is during their time all the petroleum products were decontrolled".

“The petroleum products, which could have been made available between 1998 to 2004, for simple economic logic cannot be made available today when the prices (of crude) are more than 5-6 times higher," he said.

OneIndia News