Slamming what he termed as the “wrath of coercive agencies” on the business community, former prime minister Manmohan Singh Friday said trust between the government and businesses has eroded and a hostile narrative has been built that will hurt the economy.
Speaking at Hindu Business Line’s award event, Singh withouttaking any names said there was no room for authoritarian impositions after thecountry opted for a democratic path for itself.
“Of late, many negative perceptions have beenmanufactured about business leaders; the business community, big and small, hasbeen made to feel the wrath of coercive agencies,” he said.
“A hostile narrative has been built; this will sap notonly the confidence of our own business leaders, it will also create doubts inthe mind of foreign governments and business leaders.
“Honest businessman and genuine entrepreneur must neverbe allowed to feel harassed by the petty revenue officials. Unfortunately,Trust between the government and the business stands eroded,” he saidwithout elaborating.
There is a need to create an intellectual atmosphere thatabets industriousness, innovation and imagination among the business community,he said, adding that the society, the government and the business stand tobenefit from conditions of trust, lawfulness and fairness.
Singh noted that no change is permanent and the country hasremained alive to the need for change and has progressed and prospered wheneversociety recognised and promoted change.
“Societies grow and progress when creativity isencouraged to challenge the status quo,” he said.
He also said it is vital to prepare all stakeholders for thecoming change because produce some disruption, some pain and considerablediscomfort.
“It becomes, then, the task of the statesman to takethe citizens into confidence and explain to them the need for change. It isnever easy to make citizens accept deprivation, even temporary,” he said.
The former prime minister also talked about the economicreforms that he ushered in 1991, saying “our nation faced a difficultchoice then”. He, however, noted that even though much had been achievedbefore 1991 in this land of poverty and deprivation, “but still much morehad to be done — and, done differently”.
“We are a young nation but an old society. This oldsociety reflects the strength of our ancient civilization and its traditions.
“Since ancient days we experienced a collectivestrength and confidence when we remained alive to the need for change; weprogressed and prospered whenever we could recognise and promote change, and wemoved forward when the society and the administration facilitated the work of thepotential change-makers,” he said.
Singh presented award of change maker of the year to the GST Council and the award was received by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.