Critical message

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's openly expressed disenchantment with industry for voicing its dissatisfaction with the pace of reform was duly echoed at an Assocham event on renewable energy on Friday. The chief guest was Piyush Goyal, minister for power, coal and new & renewable energy, who arrived one and a half hours late. After apologising for the delay, Goyal made sure Assocham apologised for its past criticisms of the government too. Pointing to a senior Assocham member, Goyal said advertisements by the industry chamber "defending the coal scam" were not in good taste. "Don't let the government suspect your intentions. I would request you all to work for the nation's interest and not for your vested interest," he added. His forthright speech was greeted with stunned silence but one senior Assocham member got the message. In his thank-you address he said the chamber would heed the minister's advice and "make sure that none of our motives are perceived to be for personal gains".