Common man will not bear the brunt: Aiyar

The government on Tuesday made a case for hike in petroleum prices but said all steps would be taken to keep minimise the burden on the common man by considering reduction in duties.

"We are going through one of the worst crises in international oil prices," Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar told the Lok Sabha during a discussion on the rise in the prices of essential commodities, including petroleum products.

"We believe in equitable burden sharing. A little bit by the consumer, a substantial chunk by the government and the larger share on shoulders of the oil firms," he said.

Aiyar said the oil prices shot up $18 in the last 14 months, which was equivalent to the increase over eight year period from 1996 to 2004.

Yet, the UPA government increased petrol prices by mere Rs 7 as against NDA government's Rs 16, PDS kerosene by only four paise vis-a-vis NDA's Rs 6.05, diesel by Rs 6 as against NDA's Rs 15 and LPG by Rs 53 a cylinder as against Rs 145 a cylinder.

He said the government had resorted to only modest increase and oil companies absorbed a sizeable amount despite a whopping 164 per cent rise in crude oil prices, 177 per cent in petrol, 203 per cent in diesel and 218 per cent in case of kerosene and 108 per cent for LPG in the last three years.