New Delhi: Government today (Oct 6, 2004) indicated that it will not allow any increase in petrol and diesel prices despite international crude prices touching an all time high of 51 dollars a barrel.

"We will continue to protect domestic consumers from worst surge in crude prices," Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar told reporters in New Delhi.

Petrol and diesel prices were last raised on August 1 and Government has not allowed the national oil companies to raise prices despite rise in cost.

"We have a system to deal with normal volatilities. But in abnormal times, Government has to take a view," Aiyar said adding he would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next week to discuss the impact of global crude oil prices in the Indian market.

Aiyar attributed the spurt in international price to apprehensions of supply disruptions in the trading community and said Government was aware of its duty to protect domestic consumers during such time.