Indian Cigarette making conglomerate, ITC Ltd. has said that it is not practical to keep the price of cigarette low; more so after the imposition of duties during the current Union Budget.

Talking to a private news agency, PTI, the spokesperson of the company said that hike in cigarette prices was inevitable since the excise duties have been increased a lot. Najeeb Arif said, "Increase in cigarette prices is inevitable."

He also said that the rate of taxes which were applicable before the Budget were 190 per cent. After the imposition it has increased by another 17 per cent.      Experts had said that this would push the prices up by as much as 7-10 per cent by ITC. Had it not done this, its own revenue would have fallen by nothing less than 4 per cent.

Meanwhile, Arif has said that the company has not yet increased the prices as the stocks with the old price tags have not yet been fully consumed.

But in reality, the prices have already been increased by the small time retailers in many parts.

Gold Flake, Wills Classic, Wills Navy Cut are some of the popular cigarette brands of ITC.