The Hindu Business Line : Stalemate over BHEL divestment continues

UNCERTAINTY over the Government's move to divest stake in BHEL continued on Friday, with a meeting between UPA Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and Left leaders not resulting in any immediate decision.

"Ms Sonia Gandhi, after hearing the Left leaders, suggested that a way be found to settle the matter as early as possible. The Left leaders responded with the hope that the discussions will help resolve the issue," said CPI (M) General Secretary, Mr Prakash Karat, in a statement.

Mr Karat and the CPI National Secretary, Mr D. Raja, met Ms Gandhi at her residence this morning and discussed their decision to suspend participation in the UPA-Left Co-ordination Committee in protest against the Government's move to divest 10 per cent equity in BHEL.

Later, Ms Gandhi's political secretary, Mr Ahmed Patel, told newspersons: "We are hopeful of finding a solution to the problem through talks."

He insisted that the talks went off well and that a solution would be found soon.

On whether the Left parties would withdraw their boycott, Mr Raja said: "Our decision will depend on what stand they take on the BHEL issue."

The joint statement of the CPI (M) and the CPI said that the two leaders met Ms Gandhi at her request to discuss the letter sent by the Left parties regarding divestment of shares in BHEL and other `navaratna' companies.

On behalf of the Left parties, both Mr Karat and Mr Raja said that their stand against the BHEL divestment pertained to the violation of the provisions in the CMP about divestment in `navaratna' companies.

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