New Delhi (PTI): Defending the hike in prices of petro products, key UPA ally NCP on Friday asked the Left parties to understand "economic realities" and end their week-long stir.

The Sharad Pawar-led party also praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for keeping the interest of the nation above that of the party while taking the decision to hike the prices of petro products.

"We appeal to the Left parties to discontinue their stir against the increase in the prices of petroleum products," NCP General Secretary Devi Prasad Tripathi said at a press conference here.

He urged the Left allies to "understand economic realities" both at the national and international level.

Tripathi said that the hike in prices of petro products was "unavoidable due to the unprecendented pressure of the international market."

"The Prime Minister acted in the interest of the nation by hiking the prices of petro products. If the decision would not have been taken, the oil companies would have turned bankrupt in the long run," the NCP spokesman said.