Date:26/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/26/stories/2006032603100300.htm

Back Full rupee float opposed

Our Bureau

Kolkata, March 25

The All India Reserve Bank Employees Association (AIRBEA) has reacted sharply to the Reserve Bank of India's decision to appoint a committee to work out the modalities for full capital account convertibility of the Indian rupee.

In a statement here on Thursday, Mr Samir Ghosh, General Secretary of AIRBEA, urged the Prime Minister not to force the RBI to go for capital account convertibility of the rupee, a move earlier championed by the Tarapore Committee but subsequently abandoned in the country's interest. The full convertibility of the rupee, Mr Ghosh felt, would lead to "dollarisation" of the economy and the Indian rupee would be relegated to the second position even within the country. Even in the US, doubts were now being expressed about the maintainability of the capital account convertibility, he said.