Don't single out PM Manmohan Singh for economic woes: Ratan Tata
MUMBAI: Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata has made a rare intervention in support of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, attributing the slowdown in decision-making to what he termed as attempts by the Opposition to "topple the government" as well as "persistent allegations" of corruption and illegal acts.
Tata used the social networking site Twitter on Thursday to back the prime minister and to lash out at his critics, on a day when the Congress party scion Rahul Gandhi declared for the first time that he was ready to play a more proactive role in the party and the government.
"Depressed to see the attacks on India. Felt obliged to express my feelings," Tata tweeted, attaching a statement in the prime minister's support.
"Yes, it is true that our country lost its growth momentum over the past 12 months, that investment confidence has declined, that inflation has soared and that government action has been 'too little, too late' - but to single out and blame the prime minister is grossly misdirected," Tata's statement titled 'Let's Do The Right Thing' read.
"We should also recognise the enormous damage done by political infighting; the single-minded goal of the Opposition to topple the government; the allegations, accusations of corruption and illegal acts which have brought almost all government action to a standstill," he tweeted.
The Opposition BJP has targeted Cabinet ministers such as P Chidambaram while Team Anna, a group of anti-corruption activities, has kept up a steady drumbeat of allegations against Cabinet ministers. It wasn't clear if Tata's references to corruption allegations bringing government action to a standstill were with reference to Team Anna.
"It is sad and unfortunate that over the past few months the Opposition, the media, some private citizens and even some members of the ruling party have mercilessly spoken and written disparagingly about our prime minister - a person who was the architect of the 1991 reforms which brought economic prosperity and international recognition to our country," tweeted the outgoing chairman of the $100-billion Tata Group. "They have also chosen to overlook the fact that this warm-hearted prime minister has led our country with great personal dignity and integrity."
Don't single out PM Manmohan Singh for economic woes: Ratan Tata - The Economic Times
