While there was little interest from the External Affairs ministry, NRI industrialist L N Mittal’s controversial bid to take over European steel major Arcelor did come up during talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Jacques Chirac today. The PM conveyed to Chirac that India hoped a ‘‘fair decision’’ would be taken considering ‘‘interests of all stake-holders’’. Chirac, who has raised questions over the bid, said he did not understand what all the ‘‘fuss’’ was about. He said a hostile bid had been made but no follow-up development plans were disclosed. ‘‘We do not act and there is no intention to act against any company. No development plan has been presented and we are waiting for such a plan,’’ he said in response to a query on whether the French government planned to directly or indirectly against Mittal. He insisted that the concerns in Europe over Mittal’s ‘‘hostile’’ bid were absolutely legitimate as it was made ‘‘contrary to practice’’ but went on to add that he was ‘‘not pre-judging anything’’. Chirac also said Mittal had just made a ‘‘financial bid’’ and was within his rights to do so.
