We will consult allies on disinvestment issue: PM

Manmohan says that because of certain differences among the partners of UPA, he had to put that process on hold.

Steering clear of the controversial issue of sale of government equity in PSUs, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said the UPA would talk to its partners before revisiting disinvestment, which had been put on hold due to difference in the ruling coalition.

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Asked about the government's position on disinvestment in view of opposition by its Left allies, Singh told reporters in Nainital that "it is certainly true that because of certain differences among the partners of UPA, I had to put that process on hold.

"We will talk to our colleagues before we move forward in that direction (disinvestment)," he told a joint press conference with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at the end of a party chief ministers' conclave.

The government had put on hold disinvestment proposals after the UPA coalition partner DMK threatened to pull out in case the Centre went ahead with the sale of equity in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation and NALCO.

Earlier this month, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had regretted that the purpose of disinvestment was "misunderstood" and said it was now up to the Prime Minister to take a decision on the issue.