Click to play videoNew Delhi: If you own a luxury diesel car, like say a Mercedes, the Oil Minister thinks you should pay more for diesel.
This would come under the governments dual pricing strategy for diesel said Oil Minister Murli Deora.
"Commercial and luxury diesel car owners should pay more for fuel as they can afford it," Deora said.
The demand for diesel has been rising by 23-24 per cent while oil companies are losing 1 lakh crore rupees for subsidising the fuel.
Dual pricing was a key recommendation of high-powered BK Chaturvedi Committee, which submitted its report on the health of oil companies to the Prime Minister in July this year.
Meanwhile, there is increasing political pressure from the UPA allies to cut fuel prices as elections draw near.
Deora has however reiterated that fuel prices will not be cut as of now.
"We are planning how we help those sectors which need subsidy on diesel like the essential transporters and railways. But for those who can afford luxuries like Mercedes car paying just Rupees 16-17 for diesel is not fair on others," said the Oil minister, Murli Deora.
Deora also ruled out any immediate cut in fuel prices, saying that the time for that had not yet come.
International prices will have to fall further to trigger a retail price reduction, reiterated Deora.
"Oil companies are still losing money....Please pray that prices come down further so that we can consider reducing fuel prices," Deora told PTI.
The minister's comments come as fuel retailers are currently losing about Rs 400 crore per day on sale of petrol, diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene.
(With inputs from PTI)
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