No rollback in fuel prices: PM

This brings an end to speculation of a partial rollback in the face of resistance.

Ending speculation of a partial rollback in fuel prices in the face of stiff resistance from political parties, including Congress, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is believed to have held firm on the Government's decision to hike petrol price by Rs 4 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.

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"There will be no rollback. We will face it," Singh told Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Wednesday afternoon, ministry sources said.

Deora, who had met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday evening, is understood to have apprised Singh about the developments related to the fuel price hike, including the feedback he got from the political arena.

Sources said that Singh approved the Petroleum Ministry's publicity and advertisement campaign on the circumstances that necessitated the fuel price hike, in tandem with other steps including duty cut and issuance of oil bonds, to save national oil companies from bankruptcy.

The Prime Minister is also understood to have directed Deora to explain the circumstances to leaders of the Left parties, who have announced their decision to go on agitation against the Cabinet decision of Monday.