A different phase

Ministerial statements at last week's meetings with business leaders indicate the government's new approach to industry

The Union government’s engagement with industry leaders is always a keenly watched development. Two national chambers of industry and commerce held their annual functions in New Delhi last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal were among the senior leaders of the government, who attended these events.
 
There were no fireworks from industry leaders this time, unlike those witnessed at a meeting last month in Mumbai, where veteran businessman Rahul Bajaj raised some apparently uncomfortable questions on why industry leaders did not have the confidence of openly criticising the government.