Jairam Ramesh taunts industrialists over Narendra Modi, their “favourite CM”

Ahmedabad, 28 November, 2011

In a function for Economic Times Awards for corporate excellence held on Sunday, Indian Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh taunted industrialists saying that their favorite chief minister was the main obstacle to rolling out the game-changer goods and service tax(GST).

Though Ramesh didn’t name Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, it was clearly understood that thinly-veiled attack was targeted at Modi only.

“If you ask me if there is one decision that is going to transform the mood, the environment, the prospects for India, it is the GST. That is the one big game changer…..and today the GST is being held back because of Corporate India’s favorite chief minister not coming on board,” Jairam Ramesh said.

“Everybody is agreed, his party is in agreement, but your favourie chief minister is holding back,” Ramesh said, teasing the assembled industrialists by alluding to Modi as “the chief minister whom all of you are photographed with everyday.”

Ramesh pointed to Mukesh Ambani as the person whose “persuasion” could make Modi change his mind.

Economic Times has carried this news on front page of all editions. In Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi editions it is titled as ‘India In’s darling CM obstacle to GST:Jairam,’ while in Ahmedabad edition the same article is titled as ‘Obstacle No.1 to GST is No.1 CM:Jairam.’

Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Mittal, Kumar Birla, Harsh Goenka(RPG group), Sudheer Vasudeva(ONGC), Rahul Bhatia(Indigo), Times Group MD Vineet Jain, central ministers Pranab Mukherjee, Salman Khurshid, Kapil Sibal, former RBI governor YV Reddy were among those present in this function.