New Delhi, Feb 3 (Agency) Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said petrol prices increased by 30 per cent between 2014 to 2021, adding that it is decided by the oil companies and not the government. Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Puri was asked about high petrol prices. The Minister said the decision of deregulating petrol prices was taken in 2010 during the UPA government’s regime. “Between 1973-79, when we had an administered price system, petrol prices rose by 140 per cent. Between 1979-86, prices rose by 122 per cent. By 1986-93 prices rose by 125 per cent,” Puri said adding, “I am mentioning seven year period because that is the period between 2014-2021, which was of present government”. “Between 2000-2007 prices went up by 70 per cent, between 2007-14, by 60 per cent, in last seven years, the prices have gone up by only 30 per cent,” he said. “We have a situation where amount of crude available is lesser than demand.
We are in touch with Oil producing nations. We have taken a number of steps to meet the situation,” he said. Puri also said the union government recently reduced excise on petrol and diesel, by Rs. 5 and Rs. 10 respectively in November, 2021. Opposition members raised their pitch to register protest against the Minister’s statement. Puri however told opposition MPs to tell their state governments to reduce VAT on petrol. DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran meanwhile questioned if petrol and diesel prices were deregulated, why were prices not raised in recent months. “Is it because of state polls including that in Uttar Pradesh? Is the price deregulated, or is it regulated by remote control ?” he questioned. Puri in reply said “we don’t tell Oil companies whether to raise or lower prices”.