BJP’s firebrand S.S. Ahluwalia turns peacemaker

October 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government Monday ruled out any immediate withdrawal of the economic stimulus even though the economy has started showing signs of recovery. "Until the growth rate reaches 7 percent, it would not be reasonable to discontinue with economic stimulus.

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A senior government official Monday questioned the veracity of the latest United Nations' Human Development Index, where India has been ranked 134. I would suggest the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) to also look at how the report is perceived around the world.

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's economy will grow at 6.3 percent this fiscal as per prediction, while inflation would remain under 5 percent, according to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. "The GDP (gross domestic product) would be at 6.3 percent by the end of this fiscal, as predicted, but could be even better given the signs of economic recovery," Ahluwalia said here Monday.

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, on Monday said that India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow at a rate 6.3 per cent during this financial year. Ahluwalia said this on the sidelines of the launch of the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) 2009 Human Development Report in the national capital.

July 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's corporate sector does not need any more stimulus packages, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said here Tuesday. "The budget includes very significant boost in plan expenditure and investment.

July 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Ahluwalia, on Tuesday said that since the budget has given a substantial boost to a slowing economy, there won't be any more stimulus packages for industry. "The Budget includes a very stringent boost, plan expenditure and investment.

July 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government is determined to bring the fiscal deficit under control, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said here Tuesday. Addressing economists at a seminar organised by the India Policy Forum, he said the fiscal stimulus provided by the government had put a burden on the deficit but the package was necessary in the given economic scenario.

July 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A mid-term review of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12) will be conducted before the presentation of the budget for fiscal 2010-11, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said here Wednesday. "I am hopeful that the next budget will address the shortcomings of the mid-term review," Ahluwalia told reporters after the commission's first meeting since the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government assumed power for a second term.

June 17th, 2009 SHIMLA - The Himachal Pradesh government Wednesday revoked the suspension of senior bureaucrat Subhash Ahluwalia, an accused in a disproportionate assets case, an official here said. "Subhash Ahluwalia was posted as divisional commissioner of Kangra this (Wednesday) evening after his suspension was revoked by the government," secretary (personnel) Diljeeet Singh Dogra told IANS.

June 5th, 2009 New Delhi, June 5 (ANI): Reconstituting the Planning Commission on Friday, the Government retained Montek Singh Ahluwalia as its Deputy Chief for another term. The planning commission panel will have three new members-Narendra Jadhav, honorary vice-chancellor of Pune University, Mihir Shah, Secretary of Samaj Pragati Sahayog and also former member of the PM's economic panel Saumitra Chaudhuri.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday appointed senior leader Arun Jaitley as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Sushma Swaraj Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. S S Ahluwalia has been appointed as deputy to Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha.

May 3rd, 2009 KOLKATA - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday accused Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee of indulging in shadow-boxing against West Bengal's ruling Left Front in the company of the Congress. Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's media interviews in which he has said that the Congress was open to a post-poll alliance with the Left, BJP national spokesperson S.S.

April 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India should have more fiscal stimulus measures to help the economy weather the global slowdown, Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia said here Tuesday. 'We should have more fiscal stimulus measures.

February 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Reacting to criticisms over lack of measures in the interim budget presented Monday, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said in an election year, an incumbent government had the mandate only to present a vote on account. 'I think this is a failure to understand the limitations of an interim budget,' Ahluwalia said, soon after industry and average citizens complained that the interim budget tabled in parliament by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had no specific measures on tax rates or to help cushion the impact of global slowdown.

January 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - There will be no tax breaks before the budget, the government said here Tuesday. 'I don't expect tax breaks between now and the budget session,' said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.