Assocham writes to PM, seeks protection for industry leaders

Says activism by agencies is harming overall business environment

Industry body Assocham has sought protection for industry leaders coming under the scanner of the investigative agencies merely on the basis of inferences and perceptions.

In a letter to Manmohan Singh, the chamber said while it appreciates clearing of the air on Hindalco, activism on the part of investigating agencies is harming the overall business climate and image of the industrialists is being sullied.  

On Saturday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had owned up the responsibility for the decision to allot the Talabira block to Aditya Birla group firm Hindalco. This was after the CBI registered an FIR against former coal secretary P C Parakh and Aditya Birla group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla of criminal conspiracy in the case, stating that the coal ministry had first rejected Hindalco's application for the mine, which was later given clearance.  

“The country needs your support for restoration of confidence and spirit of enterprise. We are afraid, if this environment of distrust continues, the decision- making will get further hampered and all those big projects recently cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Investment will not take off , since they will be stuck again at the implementation stage because of demoralised bureaucracy and a shaken entrepreneur,” the letter said.

The Assocham said the public discourse in India should take a cue from countries like the US and European states where heads of governments – Presidents and the Prime Ministers never hesitate to advance interests of the corporations.

"We need to bring the same aggression and culture here. Not all acts of influencing should be treated as so-called crony capitalism. We find nothing wrong sir, if a chief minister of a state writes to the Prime Minister favouring a particular project.”