Centre's Air India disinvestment move will be watched: Manish Tewari

The Congress today accused the NDA-led Central government of being "hell-bent on selling the family silver" by deciding to disinvest Air India, adding that the development will be "carefully watched".

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said a parliamentary panel has already asked the government to come out with facts with regard to the approval of selling the national carrier.

"This government seems to be hell bent on selling the family silver. A parliamentary panel has already asked the government with regard to the facts surrounding the simple approval to sell Air India.

"So, therefore, there is a larger question as to whether privatisation of public assets is in public interest. That is (a) and (b) if the Government will still persist, there would be a question of evaluation and both these issues will be watched very very carefully," he told reporters.

The Union cabinet had recently in-principle approved the sale of Air India and a Group of Ministers formed to work out the details of the sell-off.