New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Jun 14, 2004) discussed the revision in prices of petrol and diesel following a surge in international crude prices with Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

Petroleum Secretary B K Chaturvedi, who is due to take over as Cabinet Secretary today, and Revenue Secretary Vineeta Rai briefed Singh on the implication of the $ seven per barrel increase in crude oil prices which had necessitated a Rs 2-3 per litre hike in petrol and diesel prices.

Official sources said that the Government was also considering cutting customs and excise duty to minimise the impact on consumers.

Aiyar, however, refused to comment on the issue.