Now Shastri swipe: Says running govt not Panel job

Shastri’s tweet comes two days after Ahluwalia had sought to hit back at Nath — for his “armchair advisor” remarks about the Planning Commission — saying in an interview that the government cannot be run only with people who know how to build roads.

Explaining his remarks on social networking site Twitter,Shastri told The Indian Express on Tuesday: “It is not the question of individuals. What is being talked about is the Planning Commission. As far as Montek Singh Ahluwalia is concerned,I have high regards for him. The Planning Commission cannot comprehend the needs and aspirations of the people to the extent that elected representatives can do. Government has got to be run by the people who have been mandated by the people to do so.”

Shastri also questioned Ahluwalia’s statement that inflation would ease by December end. “Deputy Chairman,Planning Commission,has said inflation will ease into a comfortable zone by December,which he said verbatim last November also,” he had tweeted.