Friday, May 6 2005 19:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Under attack in Parliament and by the Comptroller and Auditor General on sale of two Centaur hotels in Mumbai, former Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie today (May 6, 2005) said that he was ready to face any inquiry that the Prime Minister or Finance Minister may deem fit.

"Even though the CAG has taken a view contrary to the view of the Government on technicality and procedure, I reiterate my offer to face any inquiry that the PM or FM may deem fit," he said.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said, "The interesting feature is that the figure that was put out at some stage on valuation of Juhu Centaur at Rs 246 crore was mysteriously brought down to Rs 101 crore finds no mention in the CAG report," he said.

Stating that the CAG report strains at technicalities, Shourie declined to take any query on whether he or National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government's privatisation policies were being targeted politically.

Asked whether the statement by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in Parliament two days ago that Shourie was taking "active interest" in this transaction had any political overtones, the former Minister said "I would not respond to that and that question be asked of the Government."

He said that CAG report has two kinds of comments, one set dealing with some technical issues and the second set "betrays an attempt" to paste a colour on the work that was done.