CAG report on disinvestment vindicates our stand

New Delhi, Aug 25: The CPI(M) today claimed that their viewpoint on disinvestment spree stood vindicated in the CAG report and asked the UPA government to hold a thorough enquiry into the acts of commission and omissions during the NDA regime.

''Upholding our viewpoint on the BALCO, VSNL and IPCL disinvestments, the CAG report, tabled in the Rajya Sabha today, has pointed out how the disinvestment deals were made by the NDA, undervaluing the PSUs to give benefits to their chosen ones,'' CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury told mediapersons at a press conference, addressed by party leaders -- Basudeb Acharia and Mohd Salim also.

The enquiry must also probe on how even the earnest money was not realised, he said, adding that his party was ''happy that the UPA government has decided not to carry on the disinvestment spree on the lines of the NDA.'' The CPI(M) leaders also charged the main opposition BJP with disrupting the House procedings this Monsoon session on flimsy grounds.''During the UPA regime in the last 30 months, one full session was lost becuase of the BJP, which should realise the House is basically for debating people s issues.'' Accusing the main opposition parties of 'ignoring core'' issues for issues like the singing of Vande Mataram, Mr Acharia and Mr Salim said the the BJP was ''distorting not only this but also the country's freedom struggle. Nowhere had the BJP or its mother organisation, the RSS, contributed towards the freedom struggle.

Besides nowhere were the slognas of Jai Bajrang Dal or Jai Sri Ram associated with it.'' They deplored that because of the disruption in the House proceedings, they could not raise some of the major issues including the discussion on burgeoning unemployment and the Approach paper to the Eleventh Plan.

UNI