Centre mulling immediate solution to deal with fuel prices: Pradhan

New Delhi: On a day petrol price in Mumbai breached the Rs 85 a litre mark and Rs 80 mark in Kolkata, Union Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Centre is deliberating on an "immediate solution" to deal with rising fuel prices.

"The oil ministry is of the view to bring petroleum products under the purview of the GST to bring down the prices of petrol and diesel. We are deliberating on an immediate solution to this problem till that time," Pradhan told reporters here.

"We will certainly find a way out to deal with the situation," he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday also pitched for bringing petrol and diesel under the purview of GST, saying it would ensure reduction of rates.

The union minister said the central government had in October last year reduced the excise on fuel by Rs 2 per litre keeping in view the interest of the poor people. This time the Centre is looking at both short and long-term solutions, he said.

On the reason behind the rise of petrol and diesel prices in India Pradhan said, "The political difference between two oil-producing countries Iran and Venezuela has been a major cause behind the rise in the price of fuel in the international market."

In another related development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's acceptance of a 'fitness challenge' from cricketer Virat Kohli opened a floodgate of dares from opposition leaders -- ranging from reducing fuel prices to depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of each Indian.

After the prime minister accepted Kohli's challenge on Thursday morning, saying he will soon share his own 'Fitness Challenge video', various leaders started posing their own dares to Modi on issues ranging from spiralling fuel prices to death of protestors in police firing in Tamil Nadu.

However, this 'fitness challenge' soon assumed political overtones with Congress president Rahul Gandhi leading the opposition charge by asking Modi to accept the challenge to reduce spiralling fuel prices or face a nationwide stir by his party.

"Taking into account the health profile and the lifestyle of people, especially the youth in urban areas, the Government is keen to encourage them to take to more physical activities. Work and Workout can go hand in hand anywhere- be it home or office. A few minutes on fitness workout at any time of the day is not a waste of time rather it can increase productivity manifold both at individual as well as organizational levels. Portrayal of such a noble gesture in poor light and trivialising it by certain quarters is indeed regrettable." the Centre said in response to opposition leaders trying to politicise the issue.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the Centre should look into the issue of surging fuel prices not from a political angle but the common man's point of view.

Petrol was being sold in Mumbai at Rs 85.29 per litre.

The price of the fuel is already at an all-time high in Mumbai along with Delhi and Chennai and is now creating new benchmarks daily.

In Delhi and Chennai, petrol was sold for Rs 77.47 and Rs 80.42 per litre respectively, according to data on the website of Indian Oil Corp.

Kolkata on Thursday joined the club with petrol prices over Rs 80 per litre, at Rs 80.12, the highest in nearly four years.

Diesel prices, which have already reached unprecedented levels, set new records across the country. In Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, it was sold at Rs 68.53, Rs 71.08, Rs 72.96 and Rs 72.35 per litre respectively.