The Congress on Tuesday hailed the Supreme Court decision restraining the government from privatising oil majors HPCL and BPCL without Parliamentary approval and said it would oppose their divestment 'tooth and nail' in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Describing the verdict on 'expected lines,' Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy regretted that the government did not agree with its logic that the two companies which were nationalised through an Act of Parliament, could be privatized only through an Act of Parliament.
Besides, he said Attorney General Soli Sorabjee gave a 'wrong opinion.'
As regards the merits of the proposal of privatisation, he said the Congress would oppose it in Parliament as the party had resolved in the Bangalore Plenary that it was against divestment in strategic sector.
He expressed confidence that the move would not pass muster in Parliament as there were differences within the NDA on the issue.
Party's chief whip in Lok Sabha Priya Ranjan Das Munshi echoed similar feelings saying, "We are against the divestment of HPCL and BPCL."
CPI (M) leader Somnath Chatterjee also welcomed the SC decision and said Parliament should also look into the whole issue of divestment afresh.
Time has come to stop the divestment of national assets by reckless methods, he added.
"We have never opposed privatisation of loss-making state owned units," he said, but stood against the move for profit making and strategic units.
