When the nda government started its second innings with a decision to set up a separate department of disinvestment (DoD) in December 1999, for once it seemed that the rusty gates would finally creak open. A month later, the government kept up the good work by selling Modern Foods India (75 per cent) for what it considered a handsome price of Rs 105 crore to Hindustan Lever, despite severe Opposition headbanging. But there the process seemed to fizzle out. And now, within a year of its existence, the government has ordered that the DoD's working be supervised by a parliamentary standing committee attached to the finance ministry. At the same time, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India would prepare a social and economic report on all...
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