The government has ruled out roll back of the hike prices of kerosene and cooking gas. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament the Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Mr. Murli Deora said that the increase in these products was only minimal and the government has no intention was going back on its decision.Earlier, making a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said that the government is committed to protecting both the interests of the common man, particularly the vulnerable sections of the society as well as the financial health of the public sector oil marketing companies. Mr Deora also said that some of the states have very high rates of sales tax on petrol and diesel and some are even levying sales tax as high as 12.5 per cent even on PDS kerosene. He appealed to the states to shift from ad valorem rates of sales tax to specific tax.