Govt signals disinvestment on track

In what can be described as a major signal that the Government wants to push ahead with its disinvestment agenda, despite strong opposition ...

In what can be described as a major signal that the Government wants to push ahead with its disinvestment agenda, despite strong opposition from within the BJP and its allies, seven Group of Ministers (GoMs) were reconstituted today to include disinvestment minister Arun Shourie.

The GoMs in which Shourie has been inducted are the ones on labour reforms, foreign direct investment, policy and institutional reforms, small-scale industry, integrated food laws and withdrawal of the quantitative restrictions on the import of agricultural commodities under the WTO regime.

What is significant is the fact that Shourie has been inducted in all these important GoMs just ahead of the Budget session. In fact, in the GoMs on FDI, labour reforms, SSI and WTO, Shourie has been included in addition to Murasoli Maran, who has been ailing since September 2002 and is now receiving treatment in the US. Apart from looking after the disinvestment ministry, Shourie is at present holding charge of the ministry of commerce and industry too.

Story continues below this ad

Shourie himself chose the underplay the move. Speaking to The Indian Express, he said ‘‘the group of ministers are formed whenever there is an important agenda and they are dissolved when the work is over. I do work whenever any work is assigned to me.’’ He refused to comment on whether he had received any formal intimation on the reconstitution of the GoMs.

The disinvestment minister is also part of the recently-constituted GoM for finalising the proposals for negotiations under the agreement on agriculture of the WTO and the GoM for fixing natural gas prices.

The GoM for fixing natural gas prices is headed by the deputy chairman of Planning Commission, K C Pant, and apart from the petroleum minister also includes the power and fertiliser ministers besides the disinvestment minister.

Shourie had earlier also been included in the cabinet committee on prices, WTO matters, information technology and environment.

Trump accepts tariffs caused ‘rift with India,’ says it wasn’t an easy thing to do

World1 hr ago

Trump acknowledges that steep tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil have strained relations between the two countries. Talks to reduce tariffs have stalled as India resists opening its agricultural and dairy sectors. Despite the rift, Trump signals a potential reset and his nominee for ambassador to India says progress is likely.

View all shorts

Live Blog