Gandhi said the UPA was against indiscriminate privatisation of PSUs and pointed out that PSUs should make sustainable profits to discharge their larger social obligations. She said though the private sector was trying to expand their base, PSUs would continue to play a crucial role in the development of far-flung areas of the country. She praised SAIL for its performance and for setting up Steel Processing Units in nine states.

Steel minister Ram Vilas Paswan highlighted the need for additional production of steel to bridge the demand-supply gap which is currently 7 per cent. On the issue of steel prices, Paswan made it clear that his ministry was expecting further correction in prices especially at a time when global prices were declining.