JOIN USJaipal Reddy obliquely attacks technocrat Montek
Union Science and Technology Minister Jaipal Reddy on Monday attacked movers of Indian economy and said that those who want to develop Indian economy in a technocratic way will be defeating themselves.
Though Reddy refrained from taking names, he was obviously referring to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and others who are pioneering Indian economy to a new regime.
He was speaking as a chief guest at a seminar organised in memory of socialist leader and former MP Surendra Mohan. The seminar was attended by many political and social activists. Reddy has almost been maintaining a silence over such issues after he was shifted from Petroleum and Oil ministry allegedly after a pressure from Reliance.
He had denied revision of the price of the gas supplied from KG-D6 field, and also did not accept the claim of the company about investments it has made in the field.
Reddy said: “All those who want to develop Indian economy in a technocratic way will be defeating themselves. Can you do without thinking of the people?”
“Current obsession with the technocrats is going to harm the country,” he added.
Reddy also harshly commented on what he described as dearth of people committed to democratic ideals. “Today we see technocrats; where are democrats?” he asked. Reddy also recalled how he had quit the Congress to oppose emergency and joined “Janata tradition.” He said that he identified himself with socialists who were representing socialism, one among many ideological streams of the Janata tradition.