The political storm over foreign consultants in the Planning Commission took a new turn on Wednesday amid indications that experts from the World Bank, McKinsey and ADB have offered to quit even as the protesting Left economists decided to boycott the meeting of Consultative Group on Industry.
It is understood that officials of these organisations were in touch with Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and their decision is part of efforts to take the government out of the difficult situation.
Asked if experts from his organisation had quit the Consultative Groups, World Bank India director Michael Carter told PTI, "I am not saying anything on this issue."
Likewise, Mckinsey spokesperson from Mumbai parried the query on whether the company had recalled its exerts from the Commission's Groups, and said, "We have decided not to comment on the issue."
On whether Left economists would attend the Consultation Group meeting later in the day, C P Chandrasekhar, one of those who threatened to quit the Panel to protest against foreign experts, told PTI, "We are not going (to attend) today", and added, "we have no formal communication or announcement from the government that they (foreign experts) have resigned."
He and Jayati Ghosh (wife of Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen) are members of the Group on Industry and the two had earlier boycotted a meeting of the Group.
Sen on Tuesday refused to make any comment when asked if the Commission members were taken into confidence about engaging foreign experts.
To add to the woes of the government, CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechuri termed as "needless provocation" the statement made by Ahluwalia in London that foreign experts would continue to be in the Consultation Groups.
Montek declines comment
Deputy Chairman og Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Wednesday declined to comment on the controversial issue that has triggered a political storm.
"I will comment only after I get back (to India)," Ahluwalia told PTI when asked if the experts from the World Bank, ADB and McKinsey have resigned or offered to quit.
Ahluwalia, who is accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his UK and US visit, had defended the presence of these experts and said in London two days back that the outsiders were needed to get a holistic view.
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