The whole world is ashamed of the drama in Parliament: Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
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In an interview with ET Now, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman cum Managing Director, Biocon, speaks about her actions to ensure that Parliament keeps functioning. Excerpts:
ET Now: You are one of the many industrialists, who have signed that change.org petition urging Members of Parliament to allow Parliament to function. This is a fairly rare move by any member of the corporate sector. So, what exactly made you do it?
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: India Inc is extremely concerned that the entire monsoon session has been washed out and not a single important bill was even taken up for discussion. This does not augur well for the economy at all. We have seen such disruption even during the previous government's tenure. Those days, many of us did raise our voice about our concerns on stalling parliament.
ET Now: You are one of the many industrialists, who have signed that change.org petition urging Members of Parliament to allow Parliament to function. This is a fairly rare move by any member of the corporate sector. So, what exactly made you do it?
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: India Inc is extremely concerned that the entire monsoon session has been washed out and not a single important bill was even taken up for discussion. This does not augur well for the economy at all. We have seen such disruption even during the previous government's tenure. Those days, many of us did raise our voice about our concerns on stalling parliament.
However, this time around it is happening consistently and continuously. So, it is time for us as India Inc., as citizens to basically appeal to parliamentarians that Parliament is to legislate; that stalling parliament is unparliamentary and unconstitutional. Therefore, we request that they should please legislate on important issues. They can always find time for discussing non-economic issues such as the Vyapam Scam and other topics that they want to talk about. At the same time, they should .. not hijack the economic agenda on the basis of this revenge politics. That is all we are trying to say.
ET Now: That is indeed a fairly good initiative but given the fact that this petition has already come in criticism from a section of the political class with Sharad Yadav saying capitalists cannot decide how Parliament functions. He says that this signature campaign shows corporates voted the NDA to power. What is your reaction to such criticism?
ET Now: That is indeed a fairly good initiative but given the fact that this petition has already come in criticism from a section of the political class with Sharad Yadav saying capitalists cannot decide how Parliament functions. He says that this signature campaign shows corporates voted the NDA to power. What is your reaction to such criticism?
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: This is ridiculous. It is irrational. I would like to ask Mr. Sharad Yadav, why he doesn't go ahead and ban industry from his state? Let him see whether he can actually have an economic agenda for the state without industry. Every one of us is a stakeholder of this country, whether it is industrialists, farmers, employees or any any citizen. We are equal stakeholders of this nation's progress. When we see that there is a huge injustice being done to economic development, we will speak up. Who is he to ask us these questions?
ET Now: Even today, we saw that there was complete chaos in both houses of Parliament. How are we going to really ensure that politicians are held accountable to allow houses to function, debate and legislate, which is what they are meant to do?
ET Now: Even today, we saw that there was complete chaos in both houses of Parliament. How are we going to really ensure that politicians are held accountable to allow houses to function, debate and legislate, which is what they are meant to do?
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: It is a very sorry state of affairs because politicians do not create jobs. It is industry that creates jobs. GST needs to be legislated upon because it will actually add at least one per cent to our GDP growth. The effects of GST can be immediately realised in terms of economic reforms. Industry is very very capable and concerned about job creation. It almost appears as if the politicians could not care less. Politicians are really resorting to one-upmanship politics. They could not care less about how the country is going, where it is headed, whether we are going to go into economic decline. They are just not bothered. I mean, I think they need to act responsibly. At least, they should make sure that they debate and discuss economic issues. They can always have different sessions devoted to non-economic issues. We request them not to hijack and derail economic issues and reforms.
ET Now: What is your view? Do you think that the NDA government should have done more to build consensus? The current government was elected with the promise of economic growth and reforms. Could they have done more to build consensus on key bills?
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: I am not politically astute to know what goes on behind the scenes. I would have assumed that the ruling government would have tried to build consensus with the opposition.However, it looks like they have not been able to do that. Now, I do not even know how these things work but I do believe that yes the ruling party does need to get consensus or some kind of change in approach from the opposition to take things forward.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: I am not politically astute to know what goes on behind the scenes. I would have assumed that the ruling government would have tried to build consensus with the opposition.However, it looks like they have not been able to do that. Now, I do not even know how these things work but I do believe that yes the ruling party does need to get consensus or some kind of change in approach from the opposition to take things forward.
Regardless of that, if the opposition is hell bent on just not cooperating with the ruling government then that also becomes a big issue. This is a time for all political parties to align at least on economic development. This is not happening and that is why India Inc is very concerned because India has a unique window of opportunities to basically be the most interesting and important investment destination.
Given the kind of recession and decline we are seeing in various other global economies, especially in China, (we can be the land of promise.)
If India does not rise to the occasion, then we would have lost a very very valuable opportunity. I wish politicians would realise this. They do not seem to care. They seem to keep using the rhetoric of capitalism, industry versus farmers. Are they not interested in poverty alleviation? Are they not interested in creating jobs? Are they not interested to see investment pouring into India? What is wrong with them?
ET Now: There was a lot of optimism a year back, when the government got elected. So, how is sentiment on ground now, at least among business leaders in light of the recent developments or should we say despite lack of them?
If India does not rise to the occasion, then we would have lost a very very valuable opportunity. I wish politicians would realise this. They do not seem to care. They seem to keep using the rhetoric of capitalism, industry versus farmers. Are they not interested in poverty alleviation? Are they not interested in creating jobs? Are they not interested to see investment pouring into India? What is wrong with them?
ET Now: There was a lot of optimism a year back, when the government got elected. So, how is sentiment on ground now, at least among business leaders in light of the recent developments or should we say despite lack of them?
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: All I can say is that we are making a mockery of democracy, of the constitution and the world is watching us. Obviously, we have made big statements to the world at large about India's economic future. If they start seeing things deteriorating this way where there is no governance at all then it will be a matter of shame for us.
Having said that, I am sure at a state level we will see certain states progressing irrespective of the cacophony that is happening at the centre.
ET Now: How do you think India Inc will take this beyond the change.org petition? Do you think that you will also now look at meeting government leaders, members of other parties in the next few days in order to convey your concerns as well?
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: I wish the Parliamentarians, especially the opposition would talk to young people. Please talk to college students, please talk to the youth and see what they think of all this drama and circus in the Parliament. Forget about industry. Ask the common man, what he thinks about the drama.
Having said that, I am sure at a state level we will see certain states progressing irrespective of the cacophony that is happening at the centre.
ET Now: How do you think India Inc will take this beyond the change.org petition? Do you think that you will also now look at meeting government leaders, members of other parties in the next few days in order to convey your concerns as well?
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: I wish the Parliamentarians, especially the opposition would talk to young people. Please talk to college students, please talk to the youth and see what they think of all this drama and circus in the Parliament. Forget about industry. Ask the common man, what he thinks about the drama.
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48453499.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst. 
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