New Delhi, Oct 11: Petroleum minister Ram Naik today met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to present the Mashelkar Committee report on auto fuel policy but said he did not discuss the contentious issue of disinvestment in oil PSUs. He categorically stated that discussions during the 40-minute meeting centred around the report and drafting of achievements of petroleum ministry during the three-year NDA rule. "We have sought comments on the Mashelkar Committee report from all concerned. It is in this connection I met Advani and presented a copy of the report to him," Naik told a news agency after the meeting.
Disinvestment of Hindustan petroleum and Bharat Petroleum did not figure during the meeting, Naik, who recently met defence minister George Fernances and Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi to garner support for stalling strategic sale in oil PSUs, said.
Kelkar, who met Naik after taking over as advisor to finance minister last month, is believed to have mooted an informal proposal of privatisating one of the two oil PSUs while reducing stake in the other through an open offer.


Bureau Report