Kejriwal turns on charm, business leaders smile

Industrialists, who attended the CII meeting where Kejriwal outlined his party’s economic vision on Monday, said his thoughts were “refreshing” and in sync with the industry ethos.

Indian industry, which was uneasy with the perceived anti-business stance of Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), seems to have to have come away reassured after their first formal meeting with the former Delhi chief minister.

AAP-leader-Arvind-Kejriwal-speaks-at-the-CII-s-National-Council-Meeting-in-New-Delhi-PTI-photo

Industrialists, who attended the CII meeting where Kejriwal outlined his party’s economic vision on Monday, said his thoughts were “refreshing” and in sync with the industry ethos.

“We are satisfied… He clarified that he believed in private enterprise… He also made it clear that he is against crony capitalism… It was a welcome speech,” Adi Godrej, chairman, Godrej Group, told HT.

“A small number of industrialists in our country are looting the country. We are against them; not against you all. If businesses are closed, who will generate employment?” he told the gathering of some of India’s leading industrialists.

Until now, Kejriwal had been seen as an anti-corruption crusader with strong left-of-centre views on the economy that were at odds with free market principles.

“We got the impression that he is not anti-industry,” Chandrajit Banerjee, director general, CII, said.

“Industry had not given him a chance to elucidate his thoughts on the economy. What we heard was very positive,” added Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Biocon CMD.

“From what I gathered, he is pro-business and that is reassuring,” said Harsh Mariwala, chairman, Marico.