Should entrepreneurs dissent with the government
India’s best businessmen have dissented with the government
India’s best businessmen have dissented with the government
Billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala supports Modi government. He suggests that PM Modi has met all his promises such as structural changes and infrastructure investment. The current economic data and many businessmen suggest otherwise.
Data suggests the India will grow slowest in 11 years. Rahul Bajaj was the first to dissent about the current business climate. Anand Mahindra dissented about attack on JNU. Kiran Majumdar Shaw dissents often. Ajay Piramal had talked about mistrust between the government and the businesses. Harsh Goenka (RPG Enterprises) has also dissented. Most startup founders have not dissented. In the past, Ramnath Goenka had dissented during emergency. Earlier, Tatas, Birlas and Bajajs had dissented with the Britishers. Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos has invested in Washington Post. It dissents with President Trump and his policies often. Patagonias’s founder Yvon Chouinard filed a case against Trump.
Kanika Datta writes in Business Standard, “Still, the contrast with the halcyon days of 2014 is noticeable. Then business leaders eagerly lined up to attend various investment jamborees — Make in India, Stand Up India, and what not — and heap extravagant praise on the prime minister, all of it obligingly disseminated on all TV channels. Now the meetings are held behind closed doors and the content of the discussions confidential.”
Mahatma Gandhi had inspired successful businessmen to build businesses using four key characteristics- long term vision, reputation and trust, value for communities, and shared wealth. Businesses dissenting are good for the society and the business.