Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who enjoys the status of a Cabinet minister, on Monday appeared before a parliamentary standing committee headed by BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, a former finance minister. This committee is scrutinising the 12th Plan (2012-17) document.
This is the first time a minister or someone with Cabinet rank in the Union government has appeared before a standing committee. Mr Ahluwalia’s move thus has the potential to create much discomfiture for other ministers as it sets a precedent. Other parliamentary panels may now feel free to summon government ministers.
“With his (Ahluwalia’s) appearance before the standing committee, a new precedent has been established. This may now encourage members of parliamentary panels to demand ministers’ appearance on other occasions,” a source privy to the functioning of such committees said. The standing committee headed by Mr Sinha had at an earlier meeting criticised the commission over the 12th Plan document, asking it “to come up with deliverables”.