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NEW DELHI, NOV 8: The Union Petroleum minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, said on Monday the government can only respond to demands for rolling back an increase in fuel prices after the Prime Minister returns from his trip to Europe.
Communist allies of the coalition government have vowed to step up protests against the price rise if the government sticks to its decision.
"If at all anything is to be considered, it will be done by the government after the Prime Minister returns," Aiyar told reporters.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to return from Europe on Wednesday.
Political pressure had forced government to freeze petrol and diesel prices since Aug 1. But last Thursday, the cabinet approved a proposal to raise diesel prices by 9 per cent, and petrol by 6 per cent.
Oil ministry officials said the oil firms had wanted petrol prices to be increased 19 percent and diesel 26 per cent to bring them in line with global trends. |