In a frontal attack on the Prime Minister, the party Politburo said his "categorical refusal (to reduce prices) on his way back from Qatar only underlines his insensitivity, and at the same time, distorts the facts pertaining to the pricing of petroleum products".

Observing that administered prices of petrol and diesel were raised when global crude prices were at "astronomical levels" of $147 per barrel, it said now when the world prices had come down to $60 a barrel, "the Prime Minister refuses to bring down the retail price on the specious plea that Indian oil [Get Quote] companies have to bear a very heavy burden".

On the contrary, the statement maintained, the government had "bailed out the private airlines by reducing the price of aviation turbine fuel".

"Did the consideration that oil marketing companies are losing out, prompt such a largesse to private airline companies?" the statement said.

While the Prime Minister has defended the bailout package to the airlines "on the ground that they provide employment, he appears to be blissfully oblivious of the cascading effect of the petrol and diesel prices on essential commodities, particularly food grains," it added.

The party demanded that the administered prices of all petroleum products be immediately brought down, as such a move "will go a long way in bringing down the runaway prices of essential commodities and ensure relief to the harassed 'aam aadmi'.