M A I N   N E W S

Petrol dearer by Rs 4, diesel Rs 2

New Delhi, July 1
Making a departure from the past precedence, the government today bypassed the Cabinet to raise petrol prices by Rs 4 per litre and diesel rates by Rs 2 a litre with effect from midnight tonight.

"The hike was necessitated because of rising international crude oil prices which have doubled to $70 a barrel since December," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters here. Deora only consulted party leadership and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to decide on the hike. Usually, the fuel price revisions are referred to the Cabinet. — PTI