Anil Anand
Firing under cover of “nationalism”- both on friends and foes- seems to be the favourite pass-time of the current BJP-led ruling dispensation. So, when the Indian industrial sector, with the prestigious TATA group becoming the prime target, came under staccato “nationalistic” fire under the command of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal from the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) forum, it caused surprise to some but left the captains of industry befuddled.
Everyone is aware about the nationalistic credentials of the TATA group and the role played by the group in nation building post-Independence. And no one is unaware that CII in comparison to other trade and industry chambers is known for its comparative right-wing tilt. Nevertheless, the observations of Mr Goyal, which many in the industry and business sector viewed as running parallel to what Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has been vigorously stating on the role of the industrial sector in building a “Naya Bharat”, have stirred a controversy.
The 19-minute video of Mr Goyal’s remarks which he made at the CII’s annual meet, and as reported by The Hindu, quoted him as saying “Me, Myself, My company- we all need to go beyond this approach….” His assertion was targeted at the TATA Sons who he said had opposed the rules framed by his Ministry to help consumers and that they were not acting in national interest.
Two links to those videos on the Minister’s speech which were shared with the media have since been marked private and blocked, a Reuter’s report said. At the CII function Mr Goyal had said TATA’s objection to the rules had hurt him and added that he had conveyed that position to TATA Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, the report further claimed.
His observations as reported by a strong section of media repeatedly targeting the 153-year old TATA group was bound to cause both concern and consternation- concern even in the Government quarters and of course consternation among the captains of industry and the sector as a whole. The Minister’s concern that the big industry was not doing enough to support the MSME sector has merit. However, the means of articulating this concern has left many squirming.
Why did the Commerce Minister made such remarks at a time when the Government was making all efforts to put the economy back on the rails? Did he act on his own or had the sanction of his higher ups to castigate one of the oldest and topmost industrial groups of the country?
Given the centralised system of governance that the current dispensation follows, it is difficult to fathom that a Minister that too related to the financial sector would use the forum of a reputed industry chamber to castigate the oldest and reputed industrial group and that he would perform such an act on his own. Or was it a slip of tongue or an off-the-cuff remark? It is more so unfathomable.
The development has caused more confusion than clearing the mist on what exactly the Government’s approach towards business and industry is. There is certainly a strong case to make this sector accountable if the Government or the Commerce Minister felt that they (Industry) were not acting meaningfully despite the Government providing all requisite facilities to ensure ease of doing business. There is a strong case and as is proverbially said that the “state is run by authority” but certainly there is no case whatsoever for publically embarrassing a particular sector.
Mr Goyal’s observations, whatever be his real intentions, have certainly generated another controversy. What makes the incident even more interesting is that the Minister’s remarks had come in response to a few CII members seeking support for the smaller firms that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Did the Minister follow the trend to shift the blame and insulate his Government from criticism by the small industry sector through heaping blame on the big industries?
Whether it is his or his Government’s making, the episode is bound to have a fall-out. An immediate fall-out of the development reflecting the Government’s concern was clearly visibly hours after the Minister’s remarks. If the subsequent media reports are to be believed the CII was “asked” to remove the video from its YouTube channel. Intriguingly, the reports did not specify as to who had actually “asked” for the removal of the video but it is not difficult to guess. Expectedly the CII brass immediately followed directions and later uploaded an edited version of the video. If the media reports are to be believed further the edited video was also subsequently withdrawn from public domain.
By all measures this was an unprecedented happening though the Ministers or the authorities concerned conveying their displeasure to the leaders of the industry on the practices being followed by them in relation to a particular policy is not uncommon. What was unprecedented in this case was the Minister publicly and brazenly targeting an industrial group.
The episode has left the Industry leaders in a state of confusion and awestruck. Coming a day after the Prime Minister had assured the trade and industry of full help while urging them to accept challenge and invest money into the nation, it has left the leaders flummoxed.
On a broader political and policy framework firmament, the incident also raises questions about the real intent of the powers that be. Coming close on the heels of a paralysed monsoon session of Parliament with the Government showing little or no intention to involve the protesting opposition in a dialogue, and now taking on the industry captains head-on, it has only provided strength to its critics and those who genuinely feel that it lacked both vision and talent pool.
Despite a strong leader at the helm, speaking out-of-turn and at times in a most bizarre fashion has become a trademark of the ruling dispensation both at the Centre and in BJP ruled states. It is a fact that this trend of speaking out-of-turn has been allowed to perpetuate with impunity. And with no visible effort from the top to discipline such motor-mouths, there is a strong reason to believe that this is part of the overall political strategy of the party and its leaders.
The CII episode has added a new dimension to this policy or strategy on two counts. Firstly, it did not involve an opposition party as the target which in this case was a top industrial house. Secondly, a senior Minister in charge of a strategic Ministry- from business and commerce point of view- has directly pitted himself against the Industry.
This episode must force the Government into some serious self-introspection and the Prime Minister should be a worried person. There is no reason to disbelieve that he must have already pressed into a fire-fighting mode.
The way to achieving target of establishing ‘Naya Bharat’ passes through mending fences and carrying all including the opposition parties along wherein the industry and commerce sector has a key role to play. Antagonising and rubbing all on the wrong side is certainly not the way forward.
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