Praise came from one Arun toanother when the new Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley said that Divestment Minister Arun Shourie was doing exceedingly well.   

"Shourie is doing exceedingly well and has the support of the prime minister...whatever little I can do to support his cause I will do," he told reporters when asked if he would speed up the divestment of MMTC and STC, which lies under the administrative control of the commerce and industry ministry.

Jaitley pointed out that when he was appointed as the first divestment minister, there were several opponents but the same process had far greater acceptability today.

Asked if he regarded himself to be a reformist, Jaitley said, "I consider that to be a cliche just as selling the family silver was a cliche for divestment".

"There are certain things that I believe in and would like to see done...however, if this tag is being used as a cliche then I will not run away from this," he said.

Asked to react on the fact that most key ministries been bequeathed to the 'two Aruns', Jaitley said, "I cannot comment on what this move is intended to convey. It is the prerogative of the party seniors to take these decisions and for party workers to follow...you must direct this question to them".

Reacting to another query on being given the Law portfolio without the Department of Company Affairs, Jaitley said, "My hands are full."

"There is a lot of synergy between DCA and the finance ministry. In fact in my earlier stint I would often go to the finance ministry as there is a lot of overlapping between DCA and Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India). So DCA staying with the finance ministry does have its own strong arguments," he said.