Govt refuses to roll back hike in petrol prices

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New Delhi: The Budget Session of Lok Sabha started on a stormy note on Thursday with non-Congress parties, including UPA allies DMK and Trinamool Congress, slamming the hike in petrol and diesel prices and demanding a roll back, which was rejected by the government.

The issue was raised in the House as soon as it met, with Samajwadi Party and Left parties leading the attack on the government for raising the price of petrol by Rs four and diesel by Rs two. They were joined by members from BJP, Shiv Sena, RJD, BSP and TDP.

The furore forced two adjournments during the Question Hour. The House was later adjourned for the day when it met after the lunch recess.

Prior to the last adjournment, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora rejected the demands for roll back and said the suggestions would be considered "suitably" if there is a fall in the international crude prices.

"In view of the continuous rise in global crude prices, a marginal increase had become unavoidable," he argued and said the petrol price was raised by "only" Rs four against Rs 6.9 as desired and diesel price by "only" Rs two against Rs 4.11 "keeping in mind the interests of 'aam aadmi' (common man)."

He said the retail prices of PDS kerosene and LPG were not increased by the government for which the projected subsidy burden amounted to Rs 30,000 crore.

Earlier, the House witnessed uproar with non-Congress parties, joined by government's two key allies, DMK and Trinamool Congress, criticising the hike.

DMK member T R Baalu was more strident in his criticism of the decision, saying he "strongly condemns" it. "This government is not a unitary government but is supported by DMK and Trinamool Congress. It (hike in prices) is not at all good. It should have been discussed with party leaders as also in the Cabinet," Baalu said.

"I strongly condemn the act. It should not recur. I am saying this as a close friend of Congress," he said adding that it was "nowhere justifiable" as the action has come a day before the Budget Session was to start.

He said, "It is an alarming situation that the government headed by Manmohan Singh and supported by Sonia Gandhi and 'Kazhaignar' (Karunanidhi) (is) taking such decision...(it) is not at all good. It should have been at least discussed with party leaders, if not in Cabinet."