Kamal Nath to take a call today

NEW DELHI: Telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and commerce minister Kamal Nath on Wednesday met finance minister P Chidambaram, ahead of the crucial FIPB meeting, on Friday.

They are understood to have discussed the Hutch-Vodafone deal. After meeting finance minister, Mr Nath said: “I am meeting my ministry officials on Thursday to take a view on law ministry’s views on the Hutch-Vodafone deal.”

Mr Maran, who gave a clean chit to Hutch-Vodafone deal, said: “We have already given our views to the finance ministry,” while declining to comment on what he discussed with Mr Chidambaram.

The two minority shareholders of Hutch-Essar — Asim Ghosh and Analjit Singh — besides officials of Hutchison and Vodafone will meet finance secretary Ashok Jha on Thursday to clarify queries that the finance ministry may have.

Max Group chairman Analjit Singh also met FIPB officials and stated that there was no agreement between him and Hutchison (now Vodafone) to sell his shares on a future date at a face value of Rs 10. As and when the sale takes place, it will be at market price, Mr Singh said, adding: “But I have decided to stay with the company and I am the sole owner of my stake.”

Department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) had indicated that Hutch-Vodafone deal of nearly $12 billion was FDI compliant. “We are optimistic,” DIPP secretary Ajay Dua said when asked if the deal was FDI compliant.