Kolkata, May 19 -- West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday said that current petroleum price hikes were an absolute necessity, linking rising domestic fuel prices to global wartime conflicts.

The Minister defended the hike in everyday fuel commodities and noted that the latest spike in petrol and diesel rates stems entirely from international conflicts and supply disruptions.

Elaborating on the global economic crisis that directly forced the central and state oil marketing organisations to alter local consumer prices, the Minister told reporters, "There is a global crisis regarding petrol and diesel, and their prices have increased due to the war. Although PM Modi tried to protect the public from the impact, Indian oil companies are...