CHENNAI: All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa on Tuesday suspected an ulterior motive in the Centre's decision to disinvest 10 per cent of Neyveli Lignite Corporation shares.

Dubbing the decision unwarranted, she said in a statement that the Centre would get Rs. 1,100 crore by way of disinvestment, which was a meagre amount. If it wanted to mobilise funds it had many other options. If it insisted on selling the NLC shares then it would lead to the suspicion that there was some ulterior motive.

Criticising Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi's suggestion that the shares could be sold to NLC employees, Ms. Jayalalithaa said in that case each employee would have to pay at least Rs. 8 lakh, which was not practicable. Mr. Karunanidhi's suggestion would be a betrayal of the employees.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said though she wanted to inaugurate the fast by NLC workers, she decided against it. If she had participated in the stir, the DMK would have given a political colour to it and prevented workers belonging to the DMK union from participating.

As far as the AIADMK was concerned it was against the disinvestment of NLC shares in any form.

The Centre should not privatise NLC in any form in the interest of the State, she added.

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