Petro products prices: Govt to consult Left allies

Left MPs will meet by Wednesday and discuss the oil scenario in the wake of hardening of international prices.

Government will hold consultations with leaders of the left parties, allies of the ruling UPA, on the issue of petroleum product prices even as Petroleum Minister Murli Deora disfavoured increasing LPG and kerosene prices.

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After a meeting with the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Deora said that CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri, Left MPs Gurudas Das Gupta and Dipankar Mukherjee will meet by Wednesday and discuss the oil scenario in the wake of hardening of international prices.

"We could not talk to left parties as they were busy in state elections. Now we will discuss... It will be our endeavour not to hike prices particularly of cooking gas and kerosene as these are used by poor strata of the society and common man," Deora said.

Asked about reports that the Cabinet would discuss the issue of price hike of petroleum products particularly of petrol and diesel by Rs 2-3 a litre, Deora said no such issue was on the agenda on Tuesday.