The recent hike in petrol and diesel prices, it seems, has not gone down well with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Reacting to the hike in diesel prices, Badal maintained that the “prices of essential commodities should not be increased”, However, he welcomed the reduction in petrol prices.The BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre, a day before, increased the prices of diesel by Rs1.09 per litre and slashed petrol prices by 50 paise. The new Government has been following the formula adopted by the previous Government on fuel prices.