Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday urged the government to reduce the price of petroleum products.
Addressing the general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia Gandhi hinted at cut in the prices of petrol and diesel in next few days in view of the fact that there has been sharp decline in the prices of the crude oil in the international market.
"The steep rise in the prices of diesel and petrol, despite the government's best efforts not to pass on the entire burden to the consumer, has been causing hardship to the people. This is a matter of concern to the party. When the international prices of crude came down a few weeks ago, I had discussed with the Prime minister the possibility of decreasing the prices of some of the petroleum products to provide relief to the people. He had assured me then that he would look into the matter. I am sure this is under active examination," she said in a written statement.
Reacting to the statement of the congress president made on Tuesday morning, the union finance minister P Chidambaram said that he has not been able to talk to the petroleum minister.
"As I have said earlier that let me talk to the petroleum minister," he told reporters.
Sitaram Yechuri, CPM member of Rajya Sabha, welcomed Sonia Gandhi's statement. " If she has said so then the congress is responding to our demand. We have been demanding reduction of prices in the petroleum products for last three weeks," he said.
