New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was Saturday heckled at a conference in the national capital by a man protesting against the recent diesel price hike.

The prime minister was to address an international academic conference on economic growth and changes of corporate environment in Asia.

Just before the prime minister rose to deliver his inaugural address in the main hall of the Vigyan Bhavan, a protestor started raising slogans, seeking the roll-back of the hike in diesel price. The protestor who took off his shirt was later taken away by the security personnel present in the hall.

Despite the disruption, the prime minister continued with his address. He made a pitch for inclusive, faster and sustainable development, promising to overhaul the existing corporate commercial laws to facilitate the growth of the private sector.

He said that soon the government would bring a new 'Companies Bill' before parliament to address the present day needs of the corporate world.

In his inaugural address, the prime minister pointed to the great strides being made by Asian economies, pointing out that by 2050 Asian countries would have more than 50 percent share in the world economy, which at present stood at 27 percent.