Montek to clarify 'Rs 32 definition' on Monday

Under attack for Rs 32 per capita per day poverty line definition, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today said he will make a statement on the controversial issue on Monday.

Under attack for Rs 32 per capita per day poverty line definition, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Saturday said he will make a statement on the controversial issue on Monday.

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Ahluwalia, who returned on Saturday from his 10-day foreign visit, is also likely to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to brief him about the controversy triggered by the Commission's affidavit in the Supreme Court.

There has been a public outrage following Plan panel's affidavit that persons consuming items worth more than Rs 32 per day in urban areas (Rs 26 in rural areas) are not poor.

''I will make a statement on the issue on Monday,'' he told PTI when asked about the Planning Commission's strategy on whether it will submit fresh affidavit in the apex court.

Sources have said that Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has also intervened and is understood to have asked the Plan panel to rethink on the definition of poverty.

When asked whether the Commission has received any communication from Gandhi, Ahluwalia's cryptically said, ''I have come back only today and I will be meeting the press on Monday to clarify.''

Ahluwalia is also likely to reply during the weekend to NAC member Aruna Roy's open letter challenging the 32 per person poverty definition.

According to sources, the Plan panel is likely to clarify that there is no link between this poverty line and criteria for selection of below poverty line (BPL) beneficiaries.