New Delhi: Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant stoked the controversy Tuesday after saying at an online event that tough reforms are difficult in India as “we are too democratic.”
While a video clip of the talk has been shared online in which he can be clearly heard making these comments, Kant said on Twitter that he did not say these lines.
This is definitely not what I said. I was talking about the MEIS scheme and resources being dispersed and the need to create global champions in the manufacturing sector. https://t.co/6eugmtoinB
– Amitabh Kant (@ amitabhk87) December 8, 2020
Hindustan Times Y Mint, who had posted copies published by the PTI news agency of Kant’s comments, removed the stories from their websites a couple of hours after they were posted. Some other media outlets have kept their versions of the same copy of PTI.
In a video clip shared by user @tej_as_f, Kant can be heard saying in response to a question: “Hard reforms are very difficult in the Indian context, we are too democratic.”
So what is this Mr. Kant? pic.twitter.com/wuB1z9sPZD
– Texas Joshi (@tej_as_f) December 8, 2020
There is a recorded video. This is a lame excuse sir. In fact, democracy is the only system that provides balance for:
1. Social justice
2. Individual freedom
3.economic efficiency
Therefore, I condemn your statement. And as a civil servant, he should have graciously accepted his mistake– Vivek (@ Vivek60251703) December 8, 2020
Kant told the web event that, for the first time, the Center has shown determination to carry out reforms in various sectors, including mining, coal, labor and agriculture. “This government has shown the political will to carry out tough reforms,” he added.
Emphasizing that the next wave of reforms should be state-driven, he said: “If 10 to 12 states will grow at higher rates, then there is no reason why Indians will not grow at higher rates. We have asked the union territories to privatize Discoms. Discs need to become much more competitive and provide cheap power. “
On the ongoing farmers’ protest against the Center’s new agricultural laws, he stated that agriculture needs reforms that allow farmers the option to sell their products.
“It is very important to understand this that the MSP (minimum support price) will be there, the mandis will remain, farmers must have the option to sell their products since they benefit from this,” he said.
On the Modi government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, he said it is not about looking inward, but about unlocking the potential of Indian companies.
He said the government has identified 10 champion sectors for the Production Linked Incentives (PLI) scheme, and those sectors will play an important role in making India a manufacturing hub and bringing economies of scale to the country.
“The PLI scheme will provide a great opportunity for these sectors to export for 4-5 years,” he added.
He further added that it is not easy to compete with China without tough reforms, and called on states to carry out the next wave of reforms, with the Center launching its own reforms.
(With PTI inputs)
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