Chidambaram plays social justice tune

Asked if he would consider the Left proposal to increase taxes on the super rich, Chidambaram said: ‘‘I have got their memorandum and will be discussing it with them before the Budget.’’ On any new taxes or increase in tax rates, he said, ‘‘All that I say is taxes will stable and rational.’’ Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the AICC plenary, he said that the government had brought back the weaker sections of the society into national consciousness.

He said that the government policy on disinvestments continues to be as stated in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP)—case by case decisions and non-privatisation of Navaratna PSUs.

Strongly refuting suggestions that the government had put disinvestment on the backburner due to Left pressure, Chidambaram said: ‘‘We are not privatising for the sake of it. As and when the CCEA approves a case, we move towards divesting a small portion as has been committed in the CMP. And all money collected through disinvestments will be kept in the National Investment Fund.’’ Saying that the views of the Left were important in a democratic system and he listens to them, he said, ‘‘But all decisions are taken in accordance with the NCMP.’’

Chidambaram said that the UPA government had taken extraordinary measures to protect the constitutional rights of minorities and other weaker sections. He said the economy is doing well with inflation ‘‘tamed to 4.2 per cent, bank credits to industries growing at 13 per cent, and exports at 18 per cent’’.