Roy attacks Modi for not delivering 'promised reforms'

Syas Modi had failed to live up to his "social contract" with citizens for betterment of their lives

Political and social activist Aruna Roy took on the Narendra Modi-led government on Thursday for "failure" to implement promised reforms, tackle corruption and bring transparency.

Roy, also a founding member of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, said Modi had failed to live up to his "social contract" with citizens for betterment of their lives. She was speaking at the session 'A new India: Free, fair and prosperous' at the India Economic Summit on Thursday.

"We are completely disappointed with the new government. When the National Democratic Alliance was in opposition, we were promised the Whistleblower Bill and the Lok Pal. Nothing has happened, except for dilution of the employment guarantee Act, even as activists have died," said Roy.

She also criticised the government for being opaque. "There has hardly been any progress in tackling corruption. It is an opaque government. We do not know what is happening. Modi has to speak to us. He cannot just tweet to us. He is an elected representative," she said, adding the promises made have turned out to be more rhetoric than action.

India is ranked 94 out of 176 countries on the corruption index of Transparency International behind China, South Africa and Brazil.

Power minister Piyush Goyal, who also participate in the interactive session, refused to agree. "We are trying to bring about reforms in transparency. Special treatment and changes in the rules of the game (referring to policy reviews) have been eliminated from the system. Please remember we are trying to correct a 67-year-old legacy," he said.

BBC's Nik Gowing, who was moderating the session, asked Goyal to respond to the allegation that the government is only tinkering at the margins of reforms rather than taking big-bang steps. "We are trying to work to have a stable economy and set right massive corruption and wasteful expenditure. Skill-based vocation and preventive healthcare are key focus areas," said Goyal, adding: "Modi is working on a five-day test match and not a T20."

Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, who was also part of the debate, praised the government and said five months is too short a time to judge the government's performance. "Modi has involved the nation as no leader has ever done. I have never seen a more hard working and transparent government. He is giving people hope. And that is most important for a leader," said Mittal.

Rajeev Mantri, executive director at venture capital firm Navam Capital, said the changes in the provisions of the Companies Act have made setting up and running business in India more difficult. India has slipped further on the World Bank's 'ease of doing business index', at 142 among 189 countries as on June 1 from 134 last year.