The Hindu Business Line : Left to meet Sonia to end impasse on BHEL disinvestment <br>Says no change in stand

WHILE maintaining that they would not dilute their stand on the proposed 10 per cent disinvestments of BHEL stake, the Left parties today indicated that there could be a way out of the current impasse after their meeting with the UPA Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, on Sunday. Prior to that, the four Left parties met here today to chalk out their strategy for the Sunday meeting.

Speaking to Business Line after the meeting, CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Mr Sitaram Yechury said, "We have discussed among ourselves and we maintain our stand that disinvesting BHEL is a violation of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) based on which the UPA Government was formed.

"Tomorrow morning we will meet Ms Sonia Gandhi and convey our stand again. We will also listen to what they have to say."

Asked if they were agreeable to less than 10 per cent disinvestment in BHEL, Mr Yechury said he would first have to hear to what the UPA Chairperson has to say before commenting on such a proposal.

"We will listen to what they have to say and based on that we will discuss among ourselves on the future course of action," he said.

CPI leader Mr D. Raja said, "Our stand remains unchanged. Tomorrow morning we will meet the UPA Chairperson and convey our stand. If they have anything to say we will also listen to that."

The RSP General Secretary, Mr Abani Roy, said, "The issue of selling government stake in public sector companies is not acceptable. It is a question of policy and principle."

Asked whether a 5 per cent stake sale in BHEL, as proposed by some quarters in the Government instead of the earlier stipulated 10 per cent, would be acceptable, Mr Roy said,

"Who is telling this 5 per cent? No one has told us yet. But we are not diluting our stand even for 1 per cent disinvestments."

The Government is proposing to disinvest 10 per cent equity in BHEL through a public offer, which is being opposed by the Left parties.

In fact, the Left had also suspended its coordination mechanism with the UPA due to the Government's proposed move on BHEL.

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Left to meet Sonia to end impasse on BHEL disinvestment
Says no change in stand