Govt., Cong. set to clash over economic issues

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI, NOV. 23. The Government and the Congress appear to be heading on a collision course over economic issues. The main Opposition party today gave ample hint that the phase of ``cooperation'' between the two on economic issues could be a thing of the past.

The Congress today made it clear that it would oppose ``tooth and nail'' any attempt by the Centre to de-nationalise banks. The party spokesperson, Mrs. Margaret Alva, today made it clear that ``the process cannot take place without the Congress'' and as far as it was concerned there was no question of being a party to denationalisation.

Censure motion likely

It plans to put the Government on the mat over the disinvestment issue and is likely to bring a censure motion in the Lok Sabha next week. In an attempt to add more teeth to its attack, the party is trying to get other Opposition parties on board. Consultations are already on with the Left parties, especially the CPI(M), and coordination between the two is very much on the cards.

That the Congress is planning to join issue with the Government on disinvestment was evident from the speech of the party president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, to her parliamentary party last Tuesday. She said her party was determined to ``revive the debate on disinvestment''. And during her speech on the adjournment motion, she accused the Government of being ``obsessed with selling off public sector units''.

Recently, she wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker demanding a standing committee on disinvestment - her party has already demanded a white paper on the Government's disinvestment policy. Though it was the Congress which initiated the reforms process, it is against selling off profit-making public sector units such as Maruti, the IPCL, and it favors greater transparency in the process.

The Congress wants the Government to explain what it proposes to do with the funds. The party wants the funds that accrue to be invested in the social and infrastructure sector rather than allow it to be used for debt-servicing. The Government, it feels, should only concentrate on disinvesting in the non-profit making units rather than going in for a blanket sale of all PSUs.

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