The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : The Left's stand

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Monday, Sep 27, 2004

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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

The Left's stand

Sir, — I refer to the issue of inviting foreign consultants to sit in the Planning Commission's committees. The senior CPI(M) leader, Jyoti Basu's salvo against its Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, is right. It should not be viewed as a routine diatribe against the West.

In fact, Joseph Stiglitz, a former World Bank president, had himself been sceptical about the Bank's prescriptions. It will help if the Left's stand is analysed dispassionately and the entire decision is reviewed.

Rajalakshmi.R,
Bangalore

Sir, — Can the Left parties not be more constructive in their criticism? They can insist that the Government stick to the promises made in the National Common Minimum Programme.

But it should not be forgotten that Manmohan Singh leads a coalition and that all views must be heard before any decision is taken.

J. Dasgupta,
Coimbatore, T.N.

Sir, — The events that followed Dr. Singh's promise to the Left parties, such as the offer of resignation of the foreign experts from these committees, are proof of the Prime Minister's sincerity. Why are the Left parties still not satisfied?

P.R. Thiruvengadam,
Coimbatore, T.N.

Sir, — The Left parties' opposition to engaging foreigners as consultants points to their emergence as a unifying and stabilising force on the national scene.

M.S. Venkataraman,
California

Sir, — It is the prerogative of the Planning Commission to take any step it thinks is in the country's interest. And as far as involving foreigners is concerned, what is wrong if they are used as consultants?

Savin Bansal,
Ambala, Haryana

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