New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a step further on Tuesday towards scrapping the Planning Commission by inviting suggestions from people on what kind of institution should replace it, the Congress attacked the Centre, calling the move a “knee jerk and half baked decision.”
Announcing the Centre’s decision to create a special open forum on the website mygov.nic.in for suggestions on the new institution, the PMO stated, “The Prime Minister has invited ideas from the people on what shape the new institution to replace the Planning Commission can take.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “We envision the proposed institution as one that caters to the aspirations of 21st century India and strengthens participation of states... Let the ideas flow.” Criticising the Union government’s decision the Congress said that the party favoured a “restructuring, instead of dismantling” of the commission.
Congress spokesperson and former commerce minister Anand Sharma said, “Making an arbitrary announcement to scrap the Planning Commission without putting in place an alternative model is totally wrong. It’s a knee jerk and halfbaked decision. The Prime Minister should have taken on board the views of Chief Ministers. He should have called a meeting of the National Development Council to discuss it.”
Addressing the nation on Independence Day, Mr Modi had said that the 64 year old Planning Commission, a vestige of the socialist era, would be soon be replaced with a new institution to address current economic challenges and strengthen the federal structure.
“We need a new body with a new soul... We will have to think about giving a new shape to the Planning Commission. Very soon this new institution will start working in place of the Planning Commission,” the Prime Minister had said.
