Montek Singh Ahluwalia – the man Indian communists hate!
Balaji Reddy, Special Correspondent
September 25, 2004

Senior CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu on Friday attacked Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on the issue of inclusion of foreign experts in Planning Commission Consultation Group terming him a "World Bank" man.

Montek S. Ahluwalia was the first Director of the Independent Evaluation Office of International Monetary Fund. He assumed office on July 9, 2001. Today he is the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman in India serving the Manmohan Singh Government.

Prior to taking up his position at the IMF, Mr. Ahluwalia was a Member of the Planning Commission in New Delhi as well as a Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. He had previously served as Finance Secretary, Ministry of Finance; Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs; Commerce Secretary; Special Secretary to the Prime Minister; and Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance.
He earned his B.A. (Hons) degree in New Delhi and his M.A. and M. Phil. degrees from Oxford University. His published work includes papers in professional journals and contributions to books.
Mr. Ahluwalia was born on November 24, 1943. An Indian national, he is married to Isher Judge Ahluwalia and has two children.
Speaking to reporters just before a crucial meeting of the CPI(M) in Kolkata Basu said "He (Montek) is all wrong. He belongs to World Bank. He is a World Bank man." Basu, who had a luncheon meeting with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on September 18 also said that the matter would be taken up at the Left Front UPA Coordination Committee meeting once the Prime Minister returns from New York.