Day after, Naik buys time on oil majors

A day after the Supreme Court decision on disinvestment of oil majors HPCL and BPCL, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik today was evasive on starti...

A day after the Supreme Court decision on disinvestment of oil majors HPCL and BPCL, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik today was evasive on starting the process afresh by routing the proposal through Parliament. Naik said at BJP headquarters: ‘‘The next session of Parliament is in December. There is a lot of time to consider the issue. Any decision on these two companies would be taken after a discussion in the Cabinet.’’

He did not foresee any obstruction in the privatisation process following the verdict. He said: ‘‘There is no reason for obstructing the disinvestment process, a decision taken by the government.’’

Naik stuck to his view that the verdict of the apex court was ‘‘historic.’’

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On being asked if he was still opposed to the disinvestment of HPCL and BPCL, Naik said: ‘‘You know my view. I believe in democracy and the Cabinet system. All ministers have to accept Cabinet decisions. Once a decision was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment on January 26, we all agreed to it. My view ended there.’’ As for his opinion being overlooked, the minister said: ‘‘May be, I did not present my view effectively.’’

A reporter sought his opinion on the advice given by Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee. Naik responded by saying: ‘‘He is the pundit (kayade ke pundit hain). He has the right to advice even Parliament. If he has given an opinion, it must be correct.’’