New Delhi, July 12: Telegu Desam Party (TDP), which is extending crucial outside support to the NDA government, today urged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to desist from hiking the prices of LPG and kerosene. Citing press reports that the oil companies had sought the permission of the Centre to hike the prices by about Rs 40 per cylinder of LPG and Rs two per litre of kerosene, TDP Parliamentary party leader K Yerrannaidu said in a letter to Vajpayee that the oil companies were doing so only to maintain their record profit levels realised last year. "The companies making such moves to maintain their profit levels unmindful of the concerns of the poor is highly unfortunate", he said.


Naidu said Andhra Pradesh was in the forefront to use LPG and allotted 15 lakh connections and was in the process of sanctioning another 10 lakh.
"You are also aware that TDP and the AP government have all along advocated making available of LPG and kerosene at affordable prices, particularly for the poor. This is necessary in the interest of the poor and from the point of view of prompting use of LPG", he said urging Vajpayee to advice the concerned not to allow hike. Bureau Report