Plan Comm was dismantled without proper consultation: TMC MP

TMC MP Sugata Bose today said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the first meeting of NITI Aayog as there "might be a feeling" that Planning Commission, started by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, was dismantled without "proper consultation".
"She (Banerjee) must have a reason. After all, the process of planning in this country was started by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1938. Naturally there may be a feeling that the Planning Commission was dismantled without proper consultation," Bose told reporters on the sidelines of a programme on the concluding day of the 39th Kolkata International Book Fair here.
He, however, assured that Trinamool Congress would participate in "broad economic planning" for the country and "fight" to ensure a "substantive federalism".

"But I am sure that we will take part in the broad economic planning of this country within a federal framework. We just got to make sure there is substantive federalism and it is just not federalism in appearance, but actual decisions get to be taken by the Centre through its ministries particularly by the Finance Ministry.
"So in Delhi we will fight for genuine and substantive federalism during the coming Budget Session," Bose said.
He also predicted wins for AAP in the Delhi polls and TMC in the bye-elections in Bangaon Lok Sabha and Krishnaganj Assembly seats.
"All these (wins for AAP and TMC) will be good for the country... And in the Parliament we will put up a good show opposing the majoritarianism and also some of the anti-people economic policies of the Centre.

"You will see in the next week there will be developments, which will be very good for the Indian democracy... We will put a check on the kind religious majoritarianism that has been running rampant in the country," Bose added.