New Delhi, May 25 (NAI): Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on Friday defended the Central Government's decision to hike the price of petrol, saying that it was a result of depreciation of Indian rupee in the international market.
"People are facing a lot of problem due to hike in petrol prices and we will talk to the central government about it by remaining a part of it. The reason behind the recent price hike is because of the depreciation of Indian rupee," Singh told media here.
"Common man is much tensed and there are talks that there might be a hike in price of diesel as well, so the tension is increasing. But the main problem is because of 20 percent depreciation of Indian rupee. The problem is international and the government is working towards it," he added.
People across the country have been protesting against the government over the steep hike in petrol prices and sought an immediate rollback.
In the steepest ever increase, the UPA-II Government on Wednesday raised petrol prices by a massive Rs.7.54 per litre, the first hike in rates in six months.
The hike in prices means that the price of petrol in Delhi will go up from Rs.65.64 per litre to Rs.73.14 per litre. In Mumbai, the price will go from Rs.70.66 per litre to Rs.78.16 per litre. In Kolkata, the price will go from Rs.70.03 per litre to Rs.77.53 per litre In Chennai, the price will go from Rs.69.55 per litre to Rs.77.05 per litre.
State-owned oil companies have decided to raise petrol price by Rs 6.28 per litre excluding local sales tax or VAT. The hike translates into Rs 7.50 per litre in Delhi and is the steepest ever.
The decision to hike petrol prices came a day after the end of the Budget Session of Parliament. (ANI)
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