Jab dukan hi bandh ho gayee to khareedar kitni der bahar khade rahenge: Shourie

Almost resigned to a setback in the divestment, Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie said on Friday that bidders for the government equity in PSUs were withdrawing due to a virtual stoppage of the process.

‘‘Jab dukan hi bandh ho gayee to khareedar kitni der bahar khade rahenge (How long would buyers keep waiting outside a closed shop),’’ Shourie said when asked about the reports of some major bidders withdrawing from the race for equity in PSUs.

Asked about the privatisation of oil PSUs—HPCL and BPCL—in view of the approaching December 7, deadline set by the Cabinet Committee on disinvestment for taking a decision, Shourie said: ‘‘Prime Minister knows about it.’’

Asked about what government was doing on withdrawal of bidders from the race, Shourie said: ‘‘it is natural that they will withdraw. We keep reading about it everyday in newspapers.’’