Date:23/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/23/stories/2006062300881101.htm

Back Divestment, a mood enhancer?

With the Union Cabinet finally clearing on Thursday disinvestments in two public sector undertakings — Nalco and Neyveli Lignite Corporation — the Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, was pleased as a punch. Arriving to brief the press about the Cabinet decisions, Chidambaram decided to play humble, and pointed out modestly to the assembled scribes that he would have to wait for the Principal Information Officer (PIO). "I am waiting for the PIO to be here... she is the boss,'' he said much to the amusement of the journalists.

Having said that, the FM decided to kill time by advising the gathering to switch off the mobile phones. Not only that, he actually started a reverse countdown NASA/ISRO style for the journalists, beginning with 10, 9, 8, 7, 6... And for a good measure, he added, "Please don't start calling your bosses midway to inform them of the decisions. If you have to make a call, you can step outside."

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