‘World Bank man’ Montek must mend his ways: Basu

‘‘He should stop making those statements that go against us,’’ said Abani Roy, secretariat member of the RSP. ‘‘The Left wants Ahluwalia to be put in place and implement schemes that suit its interpretation of priority programmes in the CMP.’’

Before a party meeting, Basu told reporters: ‘‘He (Montek) is all wrong. He belongs to the World Bank. He is a World Bank man.’’ Insisting that foreign experts were unwelcome on the Plan panel, Basu said: ‘‘We do not want them in the Planning Commission. We have enough economists.’’

The turn of events after the Left attack, however, have left him confused. ‘‘Their (World Bank, McKinsey) people have resigned. Our people (Left economists) have also resigned. I do not know what is going on.’’

Basu’s attack came as a surprise since he’s perceived as the moderate voice in the Left. Over the past fortnight, though, as Left economists protested the appointment of foreign experts in the Planning Commission’s review panels, Basu has raised his pitch against Ahluwalia and the Planning Commission.

Basu’s comments came ahead of the UPA-Left coordination meeting the PM is likely to convene next week. There were similar noises in the Capital too. D. Raja of the CPI said: ‘‘Ahluwalia’s post is an appointed post and not an elected one. The person who occupies the position will have to work within the (government’s) policy framework.’’