BJP out of sync with Centre on reforms

The CCD8217;s decision followed Defence Minister George Fernandes8217;s demand for a reappraisal of disinvestments. Uma Bharati, who opposed the move to privatise PSU Nalco, supported him.

The RSS adopted a stand similar to Fernandes8217;, making matters worse for the BJP. At a press conference on September 6, RSS spokesman M.G. Vaidya listed defence, railways and oil as strategic sectors that cannot be disinvested.

BJP chief M. Venkaiah Naidu yesterday met Fernandes, also Samata Party chief, at lunch. Though BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley said 8216;8216;it was more in the context of the BJP-NDA relationship than disinvestment8217;8217;, sources said the key issue was just that.

A BJP leader8217;s explanation on the inevitability of the party8217;s revised stand is illuminating. 8216;8216;We are a political party,8217;8217; he said, 8216;8216;and the technical reasoning aside, this single factor is enough to make us rethink.8217;8217;

In Hyderabad, CM N. Chandrababu Naidu disapproved of the differences within the Government over disinvestment in oil companies. He regretted economic reforms were going 8216;8216;one step forward and two steps backward8217;8217;. He said Fernandes8217; stand was uncalled for. 8216;8216;There is nothing to hide and everything can be done without giving scope for doubts,8217;8217; he said.