New Delhi: In the midst of a raging controversy over disinvestment within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Defence Minister George Fernandes on October 5 demanded a quick decision on the divestment of oil sector public sector undertakings (PSUs) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and claimed that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee favoured his suggestion for a mid-course review of the economic policy.

A member of the hardline troika comprising Cabinet colleagues Murli Manohar Joshi and Ram Naik, the NDA convenor said the Prime Minister had told him that the demand for mid-course review was "justified".

"There is no justification for putting it (decision on HPCL and BPCL) off for three months. We should take a decision as early as possible in the next few weeks," he told reporters, two days after the Prime Minister strongly came out in support of the disinvestment policy.

Referring to the Prime Minister's October 3 speech in which he had talked about a campaign against reforms, Fernandes said Vajpayee had not "singled out anyone" and his speech was aimed at the "atmosphere created by the media". He did not think Vajpayee was being critical of any minister for expressing views on the issue.

"What I have raised over the past two to two-and-a-half years is that whatever work (on disinvestment) has taken place should be analysed to see if any course correction is required and it should be undertaken," Fernandes said.

Fernandes said he did not belong to any camp, pro or anti disinvestment, but had only voiced his concerns.

He refused to elaborate on the concerns raised by him and said he would seek to redress them at the "appropriate forum".

He also declined to comment on reports of a compromise formula being worked out for a solution to the HPCL-BPCL issue.

Asked if he was in favour of allowing public sector firms like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to bid for Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum, Fernandes refused to comment saying he would reveal his mind at the appropriate forum.

He termed his meeting with Petroleum Minister Ram Naik and Human Resources Minister (HRD) minister Murli Manohar Joshi as "routine". "This meeting was nothing special."

"We (Joshi and I) have breakfast together at least once a month and discuss a whole lot of issues including political and economic. It was one of those meetings," he said, adding he had briefed the Prime Minister on the deliberations soon after the meeting.

Asked if Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Arun Jaitley had forwarded a compromise formula for privatisation of HPCL and BPCL, Fernandes said, "We keep meeting at different forums. He has not forwarded any proposal."

Fernandes denied having sought support of Opposition parties to build pressure on government on disinvestments policy.

He also denied having called a meeting of ruling NDA constituents to review government's disinvestment policy.

"NDA leaders haven't met on the issue. NDA meeting is called in consultation with the Prime Minister and agenda for such meetings is set with PM's consent," he said.

Emphasising that there were no anti or pro disinvestments camps in NDA, Fernandes said a review was called to see in what direction the disinvestment policy was leading to.

Stating that he was not in favour of discussing the issue in public, he said, "It would be debated within the government."

"We have to discuss and chalk out the future roadmap," he said.

PTI