CPM expects white paper on selloff

The government is likely to present a white paper on disinvestment in the current session. According to sources, Left parties are expecting the government to table the white paper soon. It will present an opportunity to end the Left-government impasse over the Bhel issue.

This expectation is reflected in the decision of the Left not to bring any motion on disinvestment in the current session.

"We have articulated our concern on the Bhel issue to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leadership. We expect an amicable settlement," CPI(M) member of Parliament Nilotpal Basu told reporters.

Basu said the white paper would also resolve differences between the Left and the government over disinvestment in profit-making public sector undertakings.

When asked if the government had assured the CPI(M) of the white paper at the floor co-ordination meeting the Left leaders had with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Basu said the issue was not discussed.

But he said since Finance Minister P Chidambaram had promised to table a white paper on disinvestment, there was no question of it being put off.

The Left had stopped participating in the UPA-Left co-ordination meeting in protest against the Bhel selloff decision.

After that the Left leaders had several meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the issue.

The government might have communicated to the Left that it would keep the Bhel decision in abeyance, but the Left is expecting the government to publicly state that no other profitable PSUs will be divested.