Surat: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday suggested that the government eschew populist measures including freebies and instead promote entrepreneurship.
Addressing the industry representatives at an event organized by Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Naidu said, “The government should encourage entrepreneurship and not distribute freebies. Populistic politics is not good.”
He said this while lauding farmers for steady agriculture production along with the frontline health workers who have worked hard in the pandemic.
Elaborating India’s potential, the VP claimed that everyone is following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-word mantra of Reform, Perform and Transform. “We are a country with 65% population less than 35 years of age and 50% less than 25 years of age. This is the greatest demographic advantage India is having in the world. We are the youngest population.” While he expressed his happiness that the local leaders are strongly representing the issues of the local industries, Naidu was particularly acerbic on the Indian businessmen escaping the country after defaulting huge loans with leading banks. He was critical of the countries that provide a safe haven to them.
“Every country should be strict with such people and frame laws that ensure that the criminals are immediately repatriated,” said Naidu, adding that not handing criminals over to the country of origin is not a civilizational stand. Naidu called Surat’s story of growth a positive one. “In India Gujarat is a success story and, in the state, Surat is a positive story of growth,” said the man who, as union urban development minister in 2016, had proposed Diamond City to be developed as a smart city among the first 20 cities.