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By Javed M. Ansari
NEW DELHI APRIL 24. A determined Opposition today forced adjournment of the Lok Sabha, accusing the Government of surreptitiously going ahead with disinvestment of the profit-making HPCL and BPCL. The agitated MPs demanded an immediate end to the process. The issue was raised through a spate of adjournment motions, as the Opposition parties sought to put the Government on the mat for its disinvestment policy, particularly relating to the sale of these two profit- making units. Accusing the Government of disregarding the majority opinion of the House, the Opposition claimed that but for a section of the BJP, the Government was without support on the issue. Mr. Dasmunsi (Congress) claimed that out of the 545 members in the Lok Sabha, 325 were opposed to the disinvestment. A significant feature of today's development was that the Opposition's contention was not contested by the NDA allies. In fact, Mr. Khaire of the Shiv Sena endorsed the Opposition's view that the majority of the MPs were opposed to it. He embarrassed the Treasury benches by warning them that unless they reviewed the decision "the Leader of the Opposition will walk away with the issue". Mr. Dasmunsi and the CPI (M) leader, Somnath Chatterjee said that the NDA allies, such as the TDP, Samata, DMK, JD (U), PMK, MDMK and BJD, had opposed disinvestment of the oil companies and the Government was avoiding a vote on the issue. The issue was raised by Mr. Ramjilal Suman (SP) who said the two companies had made huge profits and paid rich dividends during 2001-2002. Mr. Dasmunsi said there was a divergence of opinion within the Union Cabinet with the Petroleum and Defence Ministers voicing their strong reservations against the move on the ground that it was against national security. He also threatened not to cooperate with the Government if it failed to give a categorical assurance that the two PSUs would not be divested. The Opposition ranks were bolstered by the support extended by the former Prime Minister, Mr. Chandra Shekhar. He referred to the fact that some parties opposed the move outside the House but sang a different tune inside because they wanted to enjoy the perks of the Government. The Opposition members also demanded that the Attorney-General be asked to come to the House so that he could be questioned on the advice rendered by him. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, sought to defend the Government on the grounds that since the issue was already slated for discussion on May 8, the members should hold fire till then. However, the Opposition contended that they had definite information that the disinvestment process in the HPCL and BPCL was already underway. The confrontation continued even after lunch and the Opposition MP's stormed into the well of the House forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.
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