Thiruvananthapuram, Wednesday, November 12, 2008: Kerala Government today asked the Centre to reduce the price of petrol and diesel in the wake of fall in crude oil prices in the international market.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that petrol and diesel price would not be reduced till oil companies break even was condemnable and a challenge to people, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.

The Centre’s stand was very clear that they did not want to extend relief to people suffering from price rise of essential commodities, Achuthanandan added.

Ruling out an immediate reduction in petrol and diesel prices, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said yesterday that the government will wait till public sector oil companies break-even on fuel sales before considering such a move.

“When we see that the Indian oil companies are able to sustain a reduction that will be the right (time for such a) decision,” he told reporters on way back from his three-day maiden visit to the Gulf region.