 "Biz community expresses concern over AAP's policies")
Not impressed by the recent populist decisions taken by Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after they formed the Delhi government, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said that going back on executive or legislative decisions once taken is not going to prove to be beneficial for the country in the long run.
Right after the FICCI National Executive Committee met Gujarat chief minister and BJP's Prime Miniterial candidate Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar, Sidharth Birla, president, FICCI told the media that, "We are not concerned or bothered about just one party, we are concerned about whether actions are being taken or not."
He elaborated on a few things FICCI found disturbing. "When the AAP had come, they had spoken about power and water. FICCI's point of view was if the system could be made more efficient, leakage be reduced and the benefits can be given to the common man, it would be very good indeed. However, the announcement that has come now, has gone back to dolling out subsidies again. We are against needless subsidy. Same is in the case of water. This is not good for the country at such."
Only recently the AAP government withdrew the approval given by the previous Sheila Dikshit government on allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in multibrand retail in Delhi. The chamber feels that FDI is a complicated issue, while the previous Delhi government had given approval to FDI, this has now been reversed, and reversing any executive or legislative decision once taken is not good for the country, except in very extreme circumstances.
Birla did not mince his words when he said, "It was AAP's prerogative, and they exercised it. Where we feel sad is that this was done without exploring any other viable alternatives. Today, there has been a policy reversal on one issue, tomorrow, there would be more such instances."
Adding that he is commenting on the policies and not on the politics of AAP, he lamented ," Whether such stands (policy reversals) would take us forward. How will the industries evolve their business models. The point is whether this 'romance' will create more jobs."
On its part, however, FICCI has sent a letter to the new Delhi chief minister Kejriwal and invited him for an interaction, which is likely to take place in a month's time.
FICCI, on the other hand, admitted that legislative functions in the UPA-II government got stuck as there was not a clear mandate, however, there is no room for any more experimentation.
Birla said, "Each party has its own 'romance', the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has its own romance, the Congress and BJP their own, same is true for regional parties. However, if the public takes a decision based on just this 'romance', we feel that it would not be right for the country." The industry chamber felt that the economic policies and development agenda of each and every major party including even the regional parties should be brought in front of the citizens such that the people take an informed decision in the next elections.
An unstable government, which finds it difficult to take executive or legislative decisions could affect the growth prospects of the country at large. "If we have another six to thirteen months delay in environmental clearances, if we have issues whether we want development or not, then it is not going to work for the country," Birla claimed.