New Delhi, Apr 21: Perturbed over "casual approach" to disinvestment, the standing committee on finance today asked the government to formulate a comprehensive policy. In its 42nd report, the committee said it was unhappy with claims made by the government over evolution of the disinvestment policy.

Poking holes at government's reply, it observed that the policy document brought out by the government in February 2003 was nothing but a second edition of an earlier book circulated by it.

"It is as admitted by them, just a compilation of speeches of finance minister, as well as other policies announced by government from time to time,” it said.
Moreover, had this been the policy document the ministry would not have asked for more time to prepare and bring out a comprehensive document, the committee said.

"Therefore the committee is not inclined to accept this as the policy docuement as it has never been laid in Parliament for its approval,” the committee noted.

It further went onto add that it was unable to understand the difficulty faced by the government in formulating a comprehensive policy document.

Bureau Report