Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram today gave a good conduct certificate to the Left parties, asserting that they would ‘‘not pose any hurdle’’ and be a ‘‘positive influence’’ on the Centre’s economic policies.‘‘The Left parties are equally keen on India emerging as a strong economy,’’ he told reporters here, in response to a pointed query. Chidambaram, who was on a visit to Tamil Nadu after taking over as the Finance Minister, said he was not aware of the Left’s reported objections to his statement on PSU disinvestment.However, he reiterated that the only the PSUs which were able to make profits on a sustained basis in a competitive environment would not be disinvestment. All other PSUs would be examined on a ‘‘case by case basis’’. Asked about the adverse reaction from the stock market to the UPA’s national common minimum programme, he said: ‘‘When the market goes up or down, one has to take it in stride.’’ The capital market in India was ‘‘reasonably well-regulated’’ and even on Black Monday (May 17) there was no default in payments. The Centre would take steps to further regulate the market, he added.Chidambaram said if the markets had any further apprehensions, the steps to be taken over the next month would allay them. India remains an ‘‘excellent investment destination’’ for both FDI and FII. ‘‘So, there is no cause for apprehension,’’ he said. Meanwhile, Chidambaram, who won on the Congress LS ticket, is all set to wind up his three-year-old party, the Congress Jananayaga Peravai (CJP). A formal announcement would be made at the party’s executive on June 5. Chidambaram, who refused to commit himself on a merger of his party until the elections, today said: ‘‘I am a member of the Congress now. As for the CJP, my friends say they have convened a meeting to decide on the issue.’’
