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The businessmen

friends of PM Modi

News & The prime minister does not miss an opportunity to vehemently
support his own point of view. The latest was his open defence for
views industrialists and businessmen, which attracted the Opposition’s ire

Bharat hiteshi
espite Narendra Modi led were key to development. Referring to
Hiteshi is an government receiving flak Mahatma Gandhi, who was publicly as-
independent journalist- after fugitives like Vijay sociated with big Indian industrialists, he
turned-author and a Malya, Nirav Modi and said, “When one’s conscience is clear and
political commentator. Choksi fled the country, intention is noble, you don’t get tainted
The views expressed D its staunch support for the by standing with anybody.”
are his own business community has taken even the With this, the spotlight is on how In-
opposition by surprise. A recent invest- dia perceives big businessmen because
ment meet provided the right venue the scams driven by crony capitalism
for the prime minister to assert that paint big businessmen as morally cor-
there is nothing wrong in siding with rupt and untouchable. This is why it has
businessmen. Obviously its timing was been impossible for political leaders
well chosen and calculated in build up to and political parties to be both pro-poor
the 2019 general election. No opposition and pro-business. A psychosis has been
party could afford to say a word against created in public minds and percep-
the inflow of investment announced at tion that all businessmen were corrupt.
the meet. There is not enough trust in the private
The launch of over 80 investment sector because of scams and unethical
projects worth 60,000 crore and the practices attached with big businessmen
presence of industrialists such as Kumar in the past. The question is will Modi’s
Mangalam Birla and the Gautam Adani, siding with big businessmen prove to be
explained that Modi meant business. a gamble worth the risk? Will it change
Ostensibly, PM Modi turned a busi- the perception how politics thinks about
ness event into a political opportunity India Inc? Of course the talks of crony
to riposte Congress president Rahul capitalism had been chosen by Congress
Gandhi’s accusation that his policies President Rahul Gandhi on umpteenth
helped his capitalist friends. In one shot, occasions to target Modi and the NDA
he tried to dismiss the Congress’ allega- government at the Centre.
tion that the Rafale deal with France was With the Opposition often accusing
non-transparent and would benefit one Modi government of being a “suit-boot
industrialist. ki sarkaar” the stand taken by the Prime
The economy has always been central Minister in favour of businessmen was
to any political system and Modi govern- well thought of. He said businessmen
ment’s support to industry is welcome. and industrialists played a crucial a role
Indeed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in nation development as a labourer, a
went against the accepted political farmer or an artisan. It was wrong to call
thought of always chiding businessmen them “chor-lutere (thieves)”, he added.
and traders and just singing beans in Pointing to former Rajya Sabha MP
praise of farmers, dalits and women be- Amar Singh, who was among the guests,
ing the vote bank politics. Modi said Singh would know all about it
Addressing a gathering of industrial- “Public mein milna nahin, parde ke peeche
ists, Modi claimed that like labourers, sab kuchch karna hai. Woh dartey rahtey
farmers and bankers, businessmen hain . Modi said that those looking for

Tehelka / 31 august 2018 20 www.Tehelka.com