New Delhi: Brushing aside the threat of resignation by some Left-leaning economists from the consultation process over inclusion of foreign experts, Planning Commission member Anwarul Hoda today (Sep 21, 2004) said the "entire" commission stood behind Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

"There is no dissent within the Planning Commission. We have talked among ourselves, there is no dissent. The Planning Commission is unanimous," he told reporters.

Dubbing as "unfortunate" the entire controversy which, he said, was not on policy or substance but on procedures, Hoda declared he was going ahead with the meeting of the consultation group on industry tomorrow (Sep 22, 2004) in which Jayati Ghosh and Chandrasekhar, who have reservation on the foreign experts issue, are members.

He, however, admitted that these two economists had not attended the consultation group meeting on external economy on September 10.

He said the consultation process would be over by November.