Disinvestment issue discussed in high-level meet

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with his Cabinet collegues on various matters including the disinvestment and some security-related issues.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, who denied there was any "tussle" among ministers on disinvestment process.
"We discussed many topics including economic policy, foreign policy, some security-related matters and also disinvestment," Singh told reporters after the meeting.
He, however, declined to give details of the discussions.
Asked if the Fernandes'' objections to the disinvestment process came up at today''s meeting, he said, "the matter would be taken up at an appropriate occassion."
He added that reports relating to differences on disinvestment policy and process were more in the media than in reality.
On whether the upcoming meeting of Cabinet Commitee on Disinvestment (CCD) would see a consensus on disinvestment of Hindutsan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), he said it would be unfair to guess the outcome of the meeting.
Singh denied that there was any tussle between the cabinet ministers over the disinvestment process adding that ministers spoke on various matters.
He said other matters which came up for discussion included UTI bail-out package and its outcome and also Industrial Finance Corporation (IFCI).
BJP had on Monday come out in support of Disinvestment Policy but stated it was for the `collective wisdom'' of the Government to decide as to which PSUs should be taken for privatisation, and with what methodology.
BJP''s comments assumed importance in the wake of Defense Minister and Samata Party President George Fernandes suggesting on Sunday that there should be a discussion of small group of Ministers to review disinvestment policy.
In the middle of the controversy over privatisation of the oil PSUs the scheduled meeting of CCD was deferred for the fourth time on August 27 and is now likely to be held on Saturday next.