New Delhi:
NDA partners have decided to issue whip to their MPs in Lok Sabha to support the cut motions to be moved on Tuesday against increase in prices of petrol and diesel.
The Bharatiya Janata Party today criticized Oil Minister Murli Deora's "indecisiveness", saying his "ad-hoc" fuel pricing policy has led to a vicious circle of price hikes.
Deora, who last year lost a golden opportunity to free auto fuel prices when international crude rates dropped to below USD 50 per barrel, is believed to be readying for a hike in petrol and diesel prices next month to cut losses of Rs 265 crore a day that state-owned oil firms incur by selling fuel below cost.
"There is a lurking doubt in minds of people that diesel and petrol prices are likely to be increased no sooner than the current session of Parliament ends (on May 12)," former Oil Minister and senior BJP leader Ram Naik said in New Delhi.
Petrol is currently sold at a loss of Rs 6.68 per litre and diesel at Rs 5.81 per litre.