The Congress Party today urged the states to reduce levies on diesel, kerosene oil and cooking gas to offset the impact of hike in their prices which was announced yesterday. Party spokesman Janardan Dwivedi told reporters in New Delhi that his party is sending directives to Congress-ruled states in this regard. The BJP and left parties held nationwide protests against the hike. The West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee whose, Trinamool Congress is a part of the ruling United Progressive Alliance at the center has also opposed the hike in fuel prices, saying that is will not be in the interest of the common man. The AIADMK in Tamilnadu has also demanded rollback of prices. The Samajwadi Party also held demonstrations against the hike in Uttar Pradesh. Delhi Chief Minister Mrs. Sheila Dikshit has said that her government will examine some sort of relief for the common man. The petroleum Minister Mr. Jaipal Reddy while justifying the fuel price hike, said it is minimal and was unavoidable. Speaking to mediapersons, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee expressed hope that the states will also reduce their Value Added Tax so that relief could be given to the consumer. The Prices of the Diesel were increase by three rupees per Litre, Kerosene by two rupees a Liter and cooking gas by 50 rupees per cylinder yesterday to reduce government's subsidy burden.