Hitting out at critics who “have mercilessly spoken and written disparagingly” over the last few months about “the architect of the ’91 reforms that brought about economic prosperity and international recognition to our country,” Tata group Chairman Ratan Tata on Thursday sought to goad Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into action to restore the credibility of the government and place the country on the growth path once again by implementing promised reforms.
In a note posted on Twitter, titled ‘Lets do The Right Thing,’ Mr. Tata said: “Now is the moment in time when our Prime Minister must break convention, restore government credibility, place the country on a growth path once again by implementing promised reforms, removing road blocks to growth and controlling crony capitalism.”
Unfortunate
Even while conceding that India “lost its growth momentum over the past 12 months, that investment confidence has declined, that inflation has soared and that the government action has been too little too late,” he said it was “sad and unfortunate” that the Opposition, the media, some private citizens and “even some members of the ruling party” have singled out and blamed the Prime Minister for these economic woes and this, he felt, was “gross misdirected.”
Reminding the critics that they “have also chosen to overlook the fact that this warm-hearted Prime Minister has led our country with great personal dignity and integrity,” Mr. Tata asserted that Dr. Singh now deserved the support of people at this critical time and hoped he would succeed in this venture. “All eyes are on him [Prime Minister] here and overseas in what could be his ‘finest hour’ in leading the country to economic prosperity once again. He will need to act boldly – to be courageous and to do ‘the right thing.’ For the sake of the country we all hope he will!”
Mr. Tata went on to point out that instead of criticising the Prime Minister, people should also recognise the “enormous damage done by political infighting; the single-minded goal of the Opposition to topple the government; the allegations, accusations of corruption and illegal acts which have brought almost all government actions to a standstill. We should be concerned about unconfirmed sensationalised stories in the media to sell publications, the manipulation of policy by power brokers and powerful vested interest groups to meet their self-serving desire to continue protection.”
