New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Dissatisfied with the reply of Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri on the increased prices of petrol and diesel in the country, opposition parties staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Responding to a question asked by Lok Sabha MP K. Muraleedharan during the Question Hour on Thursday, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri said, "While the average price of Indian basket of Crude oil increased by 102% (from $43.34 to $87.55) between November 2020 and November 2022, the retail prices of Petrol and Diesel have increased in India by only 18.95 % and 26.5 % during this period."

Also Read | IRCTC Share Price Falls Over 5% As Government's Offer for Sale Kicks Off.

"To insulate the Indian consumers from the impact of high international crude oil prices, Central Government reduced the Central Excise duty twice on 21 November 2021 and 22 May 2022, effecting a cumulative reduction of Rs. 13 and Rs. 16 per litre for petrol and diesel respectively, which was fully passed on to consumers. Following these reductions in Central Excise duty, some of the States/UTs also reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) rates on Petrol and Diesel," the Minister informed.

Puri said, BJP-ruled states as well as many other states also worked to provide relief to the public by reducing VAT rates, but the state governments of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala didn't reduce VAT to provide relief to the public.

Also Read | Death Threat to Sharad Pawar: Arrested Man Says 'He Was Agitated As His Wife Eloped With NCP Worker'.

On this reply of the Petroleum Minister, the opposition parties started creating ruckus and being dissatisfied with the reply of the Minister, Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, TRS, YSR Congress and Left MPs walked out of the Lok Sabha. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)