National
Shourie bemoans lack of consensus on policy decisions
By Our Staff Reporter
HYDERABAD, DEC. 17. The Union Minister of State for Disinvestment, Mr. Arun Shourie, today said the delay in bringing in economic reforms was weakening the country's security and added that if consensus could not be reached in legislatures over certain policy decisions, the Government should move ahead, irrespective of what the Opposition felt, since endless delays gave the country and its economy a bad name.
Speaking on `Challenges before industry and trade in the context of terrorism' at the Federation of A.P. Chambers of Commerce and Industry here, Mr. Shourie bemoaned the ``scattering of national resolve'' and said that this was reflected in fractured legislatures which had little ability to push through decisions, be they on POTO, disinvestment in public sector enterprises or labour reforms.
The main culprits were the Opposition parties and the Press. While the Opposition parties had made a ``habit'' of opposing everything the Government did, the Press was confusing people and creating doubts in their minds even on issues such as the terrorist attack on Parliament and disinvestment in companies such as BALCO and CMC.
Calling for all-out preparedness against all forms of violence, Mr. Shourie said it would be expensive, but protection of life had a price. Large investment in upgrading security would be a boost to industry. He gave the example of the U.S., where the private sector is primarily responsible for great technological advances in security matters.
He said the economy could not thrive in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity and said laws such as POTO were essential in the present context. Terming POTO ``too mild an ordinance to fight terrorism'', Mr. Shourie said that those who are opposing it for petty political purposes were acting against national interest.
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