By IANS,
New Delhi : Unsatisfied over Petroleum Minister Murli Deora’s stand that the government would consider reducing oil and gas prices in the country only after knowing the outcome of Saturday’s meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the entire opposition in the Lok Sabha staged a walkout during question hour Thursday.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Brajesh Pathak had asked whether the government would further subsidise diesel and kerosene as the ministry has already given Rs.5 billion relief to the civil aviation ministry.
Crude oil prices in the international market soared to a record $147.27 a barrel in July and fell below $61 a barrel in October.
Nonetheless, the oil ministry had announced Wednesday that they did not plan to cut oil and gas prices in the country immediately, keeping the rupee’s weak state in mind.
The opposition also said that crude oil prices in the international market have fallen by more than 50 percent and wondered why, despite such a scenario, the United Progressive Alliance government was finding it difficult to reduce oil prices in the country.
Murli Deora agreed that international crude oil prices had fallen and said that the government was trying to reduce prices in the country as well.
“We are waiting for the outcome of Saturday’s meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC),” Deora said.
Not satisfied with his reply, the entire opposition left the house.