Cong talking now: Sonia rings up Karat

The NCP, though keen on using the opportunity against the Congress, today chose to tread the middle path. Party general secretary D.P. Tripathi backed the Cabinet decision for 10 per cent disinvestment of government stake in BHEL, but added a note of caution: ‘‘We should try and avoid making disinvestment in profit-making PSUs.’’

NCP sources said party president Sharad Pawar spoke to Karunanidhi yesterday on the issue. ‘‘We agree with DMK president M. Karunanidhi that we should strictly adhere to the National Common Minimum Programme,’’ Tripathi said. Asked if the NCMP had been violated, Tripathi said: ‘‘there has been a certain perception in that direction…We appreciate the stand taken by the Left parties but appeal to them to come back to the discussion table.’’

Tripathi said the current mechanism for UPA-Left coordination should be changed ‘‘to make it more effective, representative and functional’’. Emphasising that the Left parties had never imposed their views on the UPA Government, he said: ‘‘When they raise an issue, it should be looked into…The Left should not feel left out.’’

Sources said the NCP decided to back 10 per cent disinvestment in BHEL because of its own stake in the same process in Civil Aviation. ‘‘We cannot advocate privatisation of airports in the Civil Aviation Ministry headed by Praful Patel (an NCP leader) and and oppose a mere 10 per cent disinvestment elsewhere,’’ the source said.