Jet fuel prices hiked

Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum raised the aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price by Rs 585 per kilolitre in Delhi to Rs 32,199 with effect from midnight tonight, an IOC official said.

The increase comes on the back of a marginally one per cent reduction effected on May 1, which had brought the rates in Delhi down to Rs 31,614.51 per kl.

In Mumbai, home to the nation's busiest airport, the rate will go up from Rs 32,530.18 per kl to Rs 33,138 per kl.

The three firms, which revise jet fuel rates every fortnight based on trends in international markets, had on April 16 increased ATF rates by about 6.7 per cent.

ATF prices had peaked to Rs 71,028.26 per kl (in Delhi) in August on international crude prices touching a historic high of USD 147 a barrel. But subsequently they had fallen, slashed every month till October and twice a month from November.

Jet fuel in Kolkata will cost Rs 40,122 per kl as against Rs 39,512.96 per kl, while in Chennai the price was raised by Rs 630 to Rs 35,724 per kl.

Asked whether the Left has opened a window open to do business with Congress, he said, "I do not agree with the word business. We are all political parties. Results will come tomorrow, we will come to know the mandate of the people."

Raja said the CPI did not want BJP to take any advantage of emerging situations but "at the same time, we don't want a government led by Congress. So, we have considered various pros and cons of the emerging situation".

On whether they will accept Samajwadi Party in the Third Front, Raja did not give a direct reply.

"I don't know about what (SP General Secretary) Amar Singh is saying. I have not spoken to him. He had not spoken to me."

"The SP did not do that (support the Third Front) at the time of confidence vote. It is now for the SP to do what they want to do," he said.

On the role of JD(S), the CPI leader said its chief H D Deve Gowda has categorical stated that they will play a key role in the Third Front. "Even H D Kumaraswamy told us that despite his meeting with Sonia Gandhi, JD(S) will be with Third Front, then why should I doubt," said Raja.