By IANS
New Delhi : The government could announce a “minimal” hike in fuel prices when Petroleum Minister Murli Deora meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday to discuss the spiralling global oil prices.
Deora stated this to reporters here Monday.
The government has been trying to find a way to stop the spiralling global oil prices from affecting the bottom line of oil majors, so that a rise in fuel prices does not become inevitable.
“We are trying our best to find a solution. I am going to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the day after tomorrow. He has to decide… even if there is a rise… it will be minimal,” Deora said.
He had met the prime minister last week on the sidelines of a charitable trust meeting, and also conferred with Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to devise ways to avoid a price hike, especially with elections in Gujarat round the corner. He had also met with United Progressive Alliance chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The Congress has publicly spoken out against any price increase.
“We have to support our public sector oil companies from losses… any decision should also not burden the people,” he said.
Speaking on the opinion of the political leadership, Deora noted, “Political leaders think that we should not burden the middle class.”