Friday, June 3 2005 19:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today (Jun 3, 2005) said the issue of raising petrol and diesel prices rests with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he will take a final call soon.

"It is in hands of the Prime Minister. Prime Minister is to decide," he told reporters in New Delhi. He, however, refused to give a timeframe for a decision on raising petrol and diesel prices in line with the increased incidence of duties and spurt in the cost of raw material.

"We have repeatedly said that whenever a decision is taken we will inform you first," he said.

Leaders of the Left parties, who met Singh on Wednesday and Thursday, had stated that the Prime Minister had made up his mind on raising fuel prices.

"Yes not only me but Prime Minister has held discussions with the Left (on revision of petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene prices)... When we reach a decision we will inform you... there is no suspense and nothing is being done in secrecy," Aiyar said.

Aiyar is leaving on a two-week tour of Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Qatar tomorrow morning and there was speculation in the media that prices of petrol and diesel and possibly LPG may be marginally raised before he leaves.

A hike of Rs 1-1.50 per litre in petrol and diesel prices looked eminent while there was a talk of raising LPG price by Rs 20 per cylinder as current retail prices were insufficient to even cover for the cost.