New Delhi, March 27 -- Amid the West Asia crisis and rising crude oil prices, Centre on Friday reduced special excise duty on petroleum products to keep petrol and diesel prices stable, inviting criticism from Congress, which saw the move as being "politically motivated" ahead of Assembly elections in four states and one union territory.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh pointed out that when global crude oil prices fell in the past 12 years, the government did not reduce consumer fuel prices in India. He asserted that it was made solely because of the impending elections and to wait till April 30.

"When global crude oil prices fell as they did on seven different occasions in the past 12 years, consumer prices in India were not reduced. Today's...