The Budget Session of Lok Sabha started on a stormy note today with non-Congress parties, including UPA allies DMK and Trinamool Congress, slamming the hike in petrol and diesel prices and demanding a roll back, which was rejected by the government. The issue was raised in the House as soon as it met, with Samajwadi Party and Left parties leading the attack on the government for raising the price of petrol by Rs 4/litre and diesel by Rs 2/litre. They were joined by members from BJP, Shiv Sena, RJD, BSP and TDP. The furore forced two adjournments during the Question Hour. The House was later adjourned for the day when it met after the lunch recess. Prior to the last adjournment, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora rejected the demands for roll back and said the suggestions would be considered "suitably" if there is a fall in the international crude prices. "In view of the continuous rise in global crude prices, a marginal increase had become unavoidable," he argued and said the petrol price was raised by "only" Rs 4 against Rs 6.9 as desired and diesel price by "only" Rs 2 against Rs 4.11 "keeping in mind the interests of 'aam aadmi' (common man)." He added the retail prices of PDS kerosene and LPG were not increased by the government for which the projected subsidy burden amounted to Rs 30,000 crore.
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