Poverty and courage

The Planning Commission’s estimation of poverty might be being hotly debated, and used to attack the government. But that hasn’t stopped even opposition politicians from using it if convenient for them. In a recent meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the chief minister was quick to take credit for bringing down poverty in his state using the same indicators for which the Commission has been severely criticised. Responding to this, Ahluwalia urged the chief minister to convey the same analysis to other senior leaders of the BJP, who have been in the forefront of this criticism. It appears the suggestion was happily agreed to by Chouhan. Whether he will actually speak out, however, remains an open question. After all, being seen as taking a stance against your own party’s stand, even if it is right, is not common in either the BJP or the Congress.