Naveen Patnaik started Nalco disinvestment process in 1998: Giridhar Gamang

BHUBANESWAR: Terming the ruling BJD's opposition to Nalco's share sale as "ironical", former Union Mines Minister Giridhar Gamang today accused Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of recommending disinvestment of the Central Public Sector Unit when the latter was in charge of mines ministry in 1998.

"It was Naveen Patnaik as the union mines minister during NDA government in 1998 who recommended 30 per cent disinvestment of Nalco. Patnaik had given Nalco disinvestment recommendation to the Finance Ministry," Gamang, also a former Chief Minister of Odisha told PTI.

Gamang said, BJD has no point to blame UPA government for the disinvestment of Nalco. "Ask your leader first before opposing Nalco's disinvestment," Gamang asked the ruling party leaders who recently held a series of demonstrations at Damonjodi, Angul and Bhubaneswar.

Stating that the 7th meeting of the Disinvestment Committee had finalised 30 per cent disinvestment of Nalco during the NDA period, Gamang pointed out that he as the MP of Koraput district, had filed a PIL in the Orissa High Court in 2003 challenging the decision to sell Nalco's share.