Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Sunday asserted that he was not in the race for the post of finance minister.
When asked about the media reports that he was in the race for the coveted post, Mr Ahluwalia said, “I am not in the race and media was at liberty and could write anything, but there was no reality in reports.”
The Oxford-trained economist was here along with his wife Ishar Ahluwalia to pay obeisance at Golden Temple. He said that the sole motive to visit the holy city was to pay obeisance.
After Pranab Mukherjee’s resignation, the Prime Minister took charge of the finance ministry portfolio.
Talking to media, Mr Ahluwalia said presently yield of farmers was being purchased on less prices due to which they felt underpaid and were “suffering huge financial losses.” Mr Ahluwalia, who was seen as the front-runner for finance minister post in 2009, batted for private companies in the filed.
“Farmers would benefit if their yield was purchased by private companies which could pay them better price,” he said.
Favouring FDI, Mr Ahluwalia said, “foreign companies could pay best prices of farmers’ yield as per the international standard.”