The government faced questions today about Amitabh Kant’s comment (Archive)
New Delhi:
Niti Aayog Chief Executive Amitabh Kant said on Tuesday that “tough reforms” are difficult in India because “we are too democratic”, but added that for the first time the government had shown a willingness to carry out tough reforms in all the sectors. One part of his quote – “too much democracy” – inspired a festival of memes and sharp reactions on social media.
The government faced questions today about Amitabh Kant’s comment. “We are proud of our democracy,” said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, closing the issue.
The plan’s senior panel officer made the remarks at an online event, ‘The Road to Atmanirbhar Bharat,’ hosted by Swarajya magazine yesterday.
He was asked if the Covid pandemic presented an opportunity for India to take the lead in manufacturing, as attempts made in the past had not taken off.
“So tough reforms are very difficult in the Indian context, we are too democratic. For the first time, the government has had the courage and determination to carry out very tough reforms in all sectors: mining, coal, labor, agriculture. These are very, very difficult reforms. The easier reforms were eliminated. It took a great deal of political determination and administrative will to carry out these reforms that are being made, “replied Mr. Kant.
“There are still many more reforms to be made. This government has at least shown its political will to make stubborn reforms and we have to carry them out to become a major manufacturing nation. It is not easy to compete with China. It is not easy to become one. manufacturing nation, it does not go through holding seminars and webinars. It requires a very stubborn ground-level approach that has been tried for the first time in India, “he stated.
As some reports quoted Mr. Kant as saying that tough reforms were difficult because “we are too democratic”, both Niti Aayog CEO and Swarajya provided clarifications.
“Swarajya’s interaction with Amitabh Kant was about PLI and manufacturing and not about political systems. His response was in the context of over-distributing resources and not creating global champions. Some mischievous elements have tried to distort it and quote it totally out of context.” Swarajya posted.
Kant tweeted: “This is definitely not what I said. I was talking about the MEIS (Commodity Export Scheme of India to reward exporters) scheme and the resources being distributed and the need to create global champions in the manufacturing sector “.
However, his words were captured by opposition leaders such as Congressman Rahul Gandhi. “With Modi, reform equals theft. That is why they need to get rid of democracy,” the congressional leader tweeted, using the hashtag #TooMuchDemocracy.
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