BJD demands a house resolution against Nalco disinvestment

Bhubaneswar: After opposing the Centre's decision to disinvest more than 12 per cent in Nalco on streets, the ruling BJD on Tuesday raised the issue in Odisha Assembly seeking passage of a resolution against the move in the House.

The issue was raised by BJD's deputy chief whip Sanjay Dasburma during zero hour. "There is no point to disinvest a profit-making public sector like Nalco," he said.

Stating that Nalco last year gave Rs 257.77 crore to the central government and Rs 224.60 crore to the state government, the BJD MLA alleged that the Congress-led UPA government was targeting Nalco as it was located in Odisha.

Dasburma pleaded with speaker Pradip Kumar Amat that a resolution be passed in the House against any disinvestment in Nalco. Other BJD members also supported Dasburma and demanded such a resolution.

Opposition Congress members, however, claimed that though above 12 per cent of Nalco's share is proposed to be disinvested, the ownership of the Navratna company would remain with the government.

They said the earning out of the disinvestment would be spend on the expansion of Nalco.