Front Page   

Govt. to seek AG's opinion on sale of oil companies

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 10. The disinvestment process continued to generate heat in Parliament, with the Lok Sabha witnessing noisy scenes today even as the Government assured the Rajya Sabha that it would seek the Attorney-General's opinion on the legal aspect of the decision to sell public sector oil majors, HPCL and BPCL.

Responding to the issue raised by Manmohan Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the Disinvestment Minister, Arun Shourie, said he had earlier sought the view of the Solicitor-General who said the Government could undertake the sale of the two companies.

Mr. Singh said the Attorney-General should be called to the House which would like to hear from him the legal position. The Opposition has taken the stand that the sale cannot be effected without either amending or repealing the Acts of Parliament to set up the public sector oil majors, HPCL and BPCL, in the Seventies.

In the Lok Sabha, trouble began at the start of zero hour with the Congress Chief Whip, Priyaranjan Das Munshi, challenging the Centaur Hotel sale on various counts. Somnath Chatterjee (CPI-M) objected to the manner in which the Government was selling off companies made by Acts of Parliament without taking Parliament into confidence.

Though the Speaker, Manohar Joshi, said he was prepared to allow a detailed discussion on disinvestment, both sides kept up their verbal assault with accusations of "loot and plunder" flying thick and fast.

A visibly irritated Chief Whip of the BJP, V. K. Malhotra, sought to defend the Government by maintaining that it was not going against the law, and said the issue should be discussed once and for all, instead of being brought up on a daily basis.

Sanjay Nirupam (Shiv Sena) said in the Rajya Sabha he had given notice to move a privilege motion against the Disinvestment Minister.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• High-voltage campaign ends in Gujarat
• Cong. fears renewed violence in Gujarat
• Govt. to seek AG's opinion on sale of oil companies
• CRPF deployed
• Govt. drops plan to make statement on Anees' arrest
• Another body found in Chengadi forest?
• Parliament nod for Cable TV Bill
• V.N. Khare to be next CJI
• Chargesheeted
• Dalit girl raped

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu