Thank God it's not Friday: FM

It is not just Bollywood stars who are consumed with anxiety on Fridays, the time for new movie releases, even Finance Minister P Chidambaram is gripped by uneasiness on the day that sees release of inflation data.

With price rise touching a 44-month high of 7.83 per cent, Chidambaram is becoming wary of Fridays and made no efforts to hide the cause of his anxiety.

"Thank God it's not Friday," Chidambaram quipped, when asked to comment on the impact of rising crude oil prices on inflation. Crude prices have touched an all-time high of $135 per barrel.

Sending a broader message to cope with the spiralling oil prices, the Finance Minister advised people to "use public transport" instead of private cars.

On the sharp depreciation of the rupee in the last two weeks, he reiterated his earlier remarks saying "rupee will move both ways".

Inflation, the silent killer