Shourie to look after Commerce and Industry

With Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran scheduled to be flown to the United States for treatment of his heart ailment, Disinvestment Minister ...

int(3)

With Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran scheduled to be flown to the United States for treatment of his heart ailment, Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie has been given additional charge of his portfolio for the time being.

The decision to give the portfolio to Shourie in Maran’s absence was spurred by two factors. One is the WTO ministerial meet in Australia, beginning on Monday. Shourie will lead the Indian delegation in place of the ailing Commerce Minister.

The other is the winter session of Parliament which starts on November 18. The Government needed a minister to field questions and debates related to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Maran’s absence.

Story continues below this ad

However, there’s more to the move than meets the eye. Political circles feel that the choice of Shourie is a gentle snub from the Prime Minister to those who have been baying for his blood over the disinvestment controversy. It’s being seen as a vote of confidence in Shourie and a clear signal to his critics that the PM does not intend succumbing to their pressure.

Maran is likely to be given the status of minister without portfolio till he recovers. A formal announcement is awaited.

Meanwhile PTI adds that Shourie confirmed this development, saying that he was informed by the Prime Minister about this during their recent visit to Cambodia. “This is only a temporary charge until Maran returns from the US after treatment,” Shourie said here. Commerce secretary Dipak Chatterjee has already met Shourie to brief him on the issues of the Sydney meet. Maran has not been attending office since September 23 because of his illness. He was operated upon for replacement of the infected mitral valve.