As Opposition and allies of the United Progressive Alliance joined hands to demand further cuts in the prices of petroleum products, the government on Friday said it would announce its decision in this regard in Parliament.
"We are alive to this problem. We will come to the House as soon as a decision is taken," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Lok Sabha after the House resumed its sitting after a brief adjournment over the issue.
The 25-minute adjournment came after Samajwadi Party was joined by members of the RJD, the Left parties and Opposition BJP and Shiv Sena in making a vociferous demand for further cuts in the prices.
When SP leader Ramjilal Suman demanded that Mukherjee, who was present in the House, should immediately announce the government stand on the matter, he was supported by members of the Opposition parties, the Left, TDP and others.
"The prices of diesel should be lowered by at least Rs 10 per litre and there should be substantial reduction in the prices of cooking gas," Suman said, adding that the reduction of Rs 5 and Rs 2 in the prices of petrol and diesel was "negligible" compared with the sharp fall in global prices.
RJD leader Devendra Prasad Yadav said, "Any move to reduce the prices should be announced in the House."
As the din continued, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the House saying that it was for the government to decide what to do and he could not force it to make a statement. Mukherjee's remarks came after the House reconvened.
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