Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi on Tuesday said the Centre had no option but to increase fuel prices in view of the challenges in crude oil procurement and supply management amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Speaking to reporters at Coimbatore Airport, Mr. Gopi said the government was aware that the hike in petrol prices would affect people everywhere but added that efforts were being taken to keep the increase under control. “The government has incurred losses for the past two to three months. At present, there is no other option except to raise prices,” he said.

Responding to a question on whether petrol prices could rise to ₹150 per litre, Mr. Gopi said there was no need to create fear among the public and asserted that the government was taking measures to prevent such a situation.

He said if fuel prices were not revised, the country could face a situation where crude oil stocks would run out within a week, making it difficult to procure further supplies. “The government is balancing all these factors,” he said.

On crude oil imports, he said India was facing shortages but was capable of compensating for them better than many other countries.

Commenting on politics in Tamil Nadu, he said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay should be allowed to work and prove himself before being criticised. “People have given him an opportunity. Let him perform well,” he said.

On the prospects of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Gopi said the party was progressing gradually. Referring to the BJP’s growth in Kerala, he said the party had moved from zero representation to three seats and expressed confidence that the numbers would increase further.

On the proposed “One Nation, One Election” plan, Mr. Gopi said discussions on the proposal were continuing and pointed out that frequent by-elections affected governance and public welfare.