While too much proximity with industrialists could be frowned upon by political rivals, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had no qualms about admitting his cordial relations with the industrial fraternity. Piramal Group chairman Ajay Piramal credited Vajpayee for giving an impetus to R&D in the pharma sector. "After taking over as PM, Vajpayee appointed a committee under my chairmanship comprising members from the private industry and research experts to encourage Indian pharmaceutical companies to do research and development, he said, adding that Vajpayee had an aura.
Britannia Industries' former managing director and CEO Sunil Alagh, who knew Vajpayee since 1973, said that Vajpayee was clear in his thoughts that our country cannot survive without industry. "He would say we are all working for India."
He added that Vajpayee truly carried forward the reforms and also the legacy of his predecessor PV Narsimha Rao in spite of him being from the opposition.'
CII President Bharti Mittal said that the second generation of economic reforms introduced under his visionary leadership contributed greatly to facilitate investments, which in turn promoted India's rapid growth.
PowerGrid Corporation of India's former CMD RP Singh gives Vajpayee credit for lending government's full support for the formation of national grid and modernisation of load despatch centres across the country. "After Pokharan nuclear bomb test, the World Bank had imposed sanctions which would have seriously jeopardised the implementation of an ambitious direct current transmission line between Talcher and Kolar. However, Vajpayee assured government support to PowerGrid Corporation which helped us complete the project nine months ahead of schedule, saving Rs 900 crore," he said.
Federation of Indian Export Organisation's former President Ramu Deora said Vajpayee's intervention helped Indian exporters to resolve payment related issues with Russia. 'Vajpayee took inputs from all of us and took up issues faced by exporters during his meeting with the Russian President. They were subsequently resolved,'' he added.
Deora, who also headed Chemicals Export Promotion Council, said Vajpayee was concerned about the problems faced especially the micro, small and medium enterprises. ''His argument was MSME's growth needs to be pushed as it will lead to generation of more jobs,'' he noted.
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