Jittery BJP ally JD(U) appeals to PM Modi to reduce fuel prices

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Janata Dal (United) on Friday, September 14 expressed serious concern over rising fuel costs and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reduce prices.

JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh said that rising fuel prices are affecting the poorest of the poor, farmers and even lower and middle class people. "PM Modi should take a strong decision to reduce the fuel prices immediately," Singh, considered close to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, told the media in Patna.

He said the hike in fuel prices is giving an issue to the Opposition. "We hope that the Modi government would do something to control fuel prices without any delay," he said.

Petrol, diesel prices continue to rise

Domestic fuel prices continued their upward movement on Friday and touched fresh record levels in three of the four metro cities.

In Delhi, petrol price rose by 28 paise, to a fresh record high of ₹81.28 on Friday, from the previous level of ₹81 per litre, data from the Indian Oil Corporation's website showed.

Price of the fuel in the other key cities of Mumbai and Chennai also rose to new record levels of ₹88.67 and ₹84.49 respectively, up from ₹88.39 and ₹84.19 per litre on Thursday. In Kolkata, petrol was sold at ₹83.14 on Friday, against the previous close of ₹82.87.

Transportation fuel prices have been on the rise for over a month now on the back of high crude oil prices and a weak rupee. Depreciation in the rupee against the US dollar makes the import of crude oil dearer as transaction takes place with dollars.

The Brent crude oil is currently priced over $78 per barrel.

In tandem with petrol prices, cost of diesel also scaled new highs. In Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, price of the fuel rose to ₹73.30, ₹77.82 and ₹77.49 per litre, from the Thursday's levels of ₹73.08, ₹77.58 and ₹77.25 per litre. Diesel price in Kolkata rose to ₹75.15, from the previous ₹74.93 per litre.

Inputs by NH Web Desk