Jean Dreze asks Sonia not to extend his NAC membership

National Advisory Council member and economist Jean Dreze has written to chairperson Sonia Gandhi requesting that he should not be considered for membership again after his one-year term finishes.

Dreze, a vocal critic of the UPA leadership’s views on the proposed Food Security Bill, is seen as one of the key architects of the social security programme that has led to a public battle between the council on one hand and the PMO and Planning Commission at the other.

Dreze had written against the attempts to dilute the benefits and reach of the food security bill. Part of the Right To Food campaign as well, the economist has not shied away from opening a front against the government even as he differed with members within the council who were ready to accommodate the views of the UPA leadership.

While the contents of the letter written to Sonia were not known, sources in the council suggested that Dreze was not keen to continue on the think tank once the food security bill draft was conveyed to the government, which he considered his primary role.