Ministers discuss ways to counter opp attack on oil price hike

Sources in the government said that a roll-out is unlikely and the meeting of the GoM on media chaired by Home Minister P Chidambaram today discussed the ways to to counter the Opposition attack and convince people about the reasons behind the hike.

The ruling Congress, meanwhile, underlined the need for augmenting source of renewable energy and other alternative sources to get rid of such measures. "When prices of crude oil rise in international market, the impact will be felt in Indian market more so as we import 84 percent of our crude oil requirement.

"We should invest renewable energy and tap other sources to avoid this. otherwise, whenever prices rise, the irresponsible Opposition will make an issue out of it," party spokesperson Manish Tewari said.

He also rubbsihed the BJP's criticism of the Prime Minister over the issue. Tewari said that the country could not have stood stable in the middle of the worldwide economic meltdown had it not been headed by an economist like Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister.

"We should appreciate the fact that there is a economist like Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister of the country, whose voice on economy related issues is heard worldwide," Tewari said.