Sonia, Left meet on BHEL, hope for a solution

The Government is buying time to work out a solution to end the face-off with the Left on the BHEL divestment issue.As UPA chairperson Sonia...

The Government is buying time to work out a solution to end the face-off with the Left on the BHEL divestment issue.

As UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi met the Left leaders today — the second time since they decided to suspend participation in the co-ordination committee — the two sides, instead of coming out with a compromise formula, just expressed the hope that they would sort out the tangle.

A brief release issued at a joint Press conference by CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI secretary D Raja and RSP leader Abani Roy after the 50-minute meeting at 10 Janpath, stated: ‘‘The Left leaders are hopeful that the matter will be amicably resolved.’’

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Contrary to the understanding reached last time, Sonia kept Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram out, so that the Government gets some more time to look for a formula acceptable to both sides.

Karat said Sonia had assured them that she would be talking to the PM and others and get back to them.

Sources in the Left felt a solution may be reached by the monsoon session of Parliament, beginning July 25. The Congress sources, however, said it may take a little longer.

Veteran CPI(M) leader H S Surjeet, CPI leader A B Bardhan and CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury were also present at the meeting.

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Sonia’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, who was present for the discussions, told reporters: ‘‘The talks were held in a good atmosphere. We are satisfied with the meeting and hope that the matter will be amicably settled very soon’’.