In a statement here AIADMK general secretary Jayalalitha said if the government wants to sell its equity interest, it should put up its entire shareholding as a block for sale to the highest bidder.

Stating that it was `disturbing to learn' that plans were afoot to dispose of the government's 50 per cent interest in Maruti Udyog Limited, Jayalalitha said adding the reports are that this is sought to be done through sale in the market to many buyers. By selling as a block instead of piecemeal, about 30 per cent extra revenue could be secured for the exchequer, she said.

Jayalalitha said government money and property are not the assets of ministers and officials but belonged to the people of this poverty-stricken country, and as such indisposing such assets, care should be taken to ensure the highest value.

Jayalalitha said already the Union government had signed one-sided agreements to the benefit of Suzuki using the excuse that such concessions will influence the Japanese government to abandon its coercive and hostile economic sanctions against the `poor' Indian millions. ``On the contrary, despite the concessions, the Japanese government continues to block loans to India from international financial agencies.''

Thus, there was no geo-political case for more concessions to Japanese entities ``so long as the Obuchi government continues illegal sanctions against India,'' she said.