Mr Joshi said the white paper would identify those industries which need to be continued and those units which could be disinvested in due course of time. It will also identify the industrial units which cannot be run by the government thanks to mounting losses, he said and added that a package for revival of Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) had already been finalised. The minister informed that about 100 out of 225 public sector undertakings were running in loss and out of the remaining some were earning marginal profits.

The policy on auto industries was in the process of finalisation and it would be announced soon. The minister denied that there was no popular demand from Vidharba region for carving out a new state and Shiv Sena would oppose any attempt to bifurcate Maharashtra. He said only some vested interests were raising the demand for creation of a new Vidarba state.