Manmohan Singh not a ''weak'' PM: Lalu

New Delhi, July 8 (UNI) Asserting that disinvestment featured prominently in the Common Minimum Programme, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today lent support to the DMK's stand on divestment of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), but rubbished all talks of Dr.

Manmohan Singh being a ''very weak'' prime minister.

Mr Prasad also ruled out any threat to the longevity of the UPA government in the wake of strident protests from the regional allies to the Centre's stand on disinvestment in profit-making PSUs.

''I am opposed to privatisation and disinvestment and it is also a part of the CMP. It will be wrong to say that opposition to disinvestment in profit-making PSUs is only because of the regional parties,'' Mr Prasad told reporters on his return from a fortnight-long visit to European countries.

Stressing the need to create more job opportunities, he said efforts must be made to ensure that youths were gainfully employed.

''This is the only way to prevent youths from turning to militancy and extremism,'' he said.

Reacting to a query that the Prime Minister was hamstrung in his functioning because of pressure from the coalition partners and was not in control of governance, the Railway Minister reminded that the BJP had also worked under pressure when it was in power.

''When the BJP was in power, only two-three MPs controlled the government and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had to act under pressure,'' he said, adding that the UPA government had a better track record.

Firmly trashing the BJP criticism that Dr Singh is a ''weak'' prime minister, he said it was not unusual if regional parties assumed more clout when national parties were unable to form a government on their own at the Centre.

''Some amount of pressure on the Prime Minister in coalition politics is not unusual,'' he quipped.

Mr Prasad, who visited England, France, Switzerland, Austria and some other European countries to learn about their railway systems, said cleanliness and other passenger amenities formed an important part of the Railways in those countries, though these were very costly.

''We will have to focus on this area in the Indian Railways, but we have to also ensure that it does not create any pressure on travelling passengers,'' he added.

UNI SKS PA KN1750