MUMBAI, NOV 25: In a move clearly intended to mollify a crucial ally, Minister of State for Disinvestment Arun Shourie, acting on the PM's orders, called on Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray to know his views on privatisation of public sector undertakings. Thackeray made it clear to Shourie that principally his party was not against privatisation of public sector undertakings, but he said the Shiv Sena desired to be consulted before policy decisions were taken. The Sena chief reiterated that a delegation comprising Manohar Joshi, Suresh Prabhu, Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, Narayan Rane and Sanjay Nirupam would meet the Prime Minister to explain the party's stand on privatisation. ``Thackeray told Shourie that before taking a policy decision on privatisation of a PSU, the mode of privatisation should be discussed on the floor of the Parliament so that there is transparency in the decision-making process. Simultaneously, the valuation of the loss-making PSUs should be done by an independent agency to ensure government is not put to financial losses. And, national interest as well as national security should be given top priority before a decision is taken,'' a senior Sena leader said. ``We had a marathon meeting on the Centre's policy on disinvestment. I will convey Thackeray's observations on privatisation to the Prime Minister,'' Shourie said after the meeting. ``After Thackeray wrote a letter to Vajpayee on the policy of disinvestment, Vajpayee had personally informed him that he would depute Shourie to know the views of the Shiv Sena on privatisation of public sector undertakings,'' the Sena leader said. Besides Thackeray, the four-hour meeting was also attended by Heavy Industries Minister Manohar Joshi, former Chief Minister Narayan Rane and Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Nirupam. When asked if the issue of ceasefire in the Kashmir valley was discussed atthe meeting, Shourie said, though he was not authorised to discusss on it, he listened to Thackeray's views and would communicated them to the Prime Minister. Shiv Sena feels large scale privatisation would enable the multinationals to dominate the country's economy, which according to it is unadvisable. ``If privatisation of any PSU is against the national interest, the Shiv Sena will oppose it on all available platforms,'' he added. Last week, in a major departure from his traditional practice, Thackeray wrote a personal letter to the Prime Minister on privatisation of PSUs. Thackeray's contention was that in the case of prestigious PSUs, preference ought to be given to domestic industrialists over foreigners. Secondly, he said that the National Democratic Alliance should adopt a cautious approach while considering the privatisation of either the Indian Air Lines or the Air India. ``If these organisation are purchases by foreigners, then it will have an adverse impact on our national security,'' Thackeray had submitted in his letter. Meanwhile, Manohar Joshi reiterated that Shiv Sena was against a unilateral ceasefire in the Valley. ``We feel its timing was wrong. We have expressed our views on the floor of the house and the same have been officially communicated to the Prime Minister,'' Joshi said.
