Warring ministers prepare hard for CCD on Sept 7

NEW DELHI: Ahead of a crucial Saturday meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment, political consultations on ironing out differences among coalition partners were in top gear on Thursday as Defence Minister George Fernandes called on Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani but stuck to his position against strategic sale of oil PSUs.
During his meeting with Advani, Fernandes is believed to have emphasised that disinvestment through strategic sale should not lead to private monopoly, particularly in the case of Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum and hence public offer route should be preferred.
Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie had called on Fernandes, who had publicly aired his differences and suggested a review of disinvestment process, in a bid to resolve the differences.
Shourie told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday, "we have presented our facts and Fernandes has given us a patient hearing." BJP spokesperson Arun Jaitley was present during the meeting.
Shourie said, "all three of us have decided not to divulge details of the meeting in public."
These consultations follow Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee''s initiative to seek consensus by holding a meeting with Advani, Fernandes and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh on September 3.
Hours ahead of the CCD, a similar meeting is likely to be held on September 7 where Shourie and Petroleum Minister Ram Naik are likely to be present.