AAP will challenge the minority who allow crony capitalism to thrive: V Balakrishnan, Ex-Infosys Director

By: V Balakrishnan

Arvind Kejriwal in his CII speech narrated an incidence to highlight the level of corruption in the country.

One chaiwala in Delhi was selling chai at Rs8 earlier. When AAP government came to power, the chaiwala reduced the price of chai to Rs 6. The reason is that he doesn’t need to bribe the police and other authorities. So, his cost of doing business was higher by 20 per cent due to the corrupt environment in the country. If corruption increases the cost of operations by 20 per cent for a small-time chaiwala, what will happen to big businesses? Big industrialists always discuss in private about the corrupt system, but never discuss it in public. Even though, they are fed up with the system, they factor in the corruption as a cost or tax in their financial model and move on in life.

Everyone of us comes across corruption in our day-to-day life. Starting from approvals, registration, permits, etc., in every sphere of our lives, we face corruption, small or big. If you are a young entrepreneur and want to start a new business, only god helps you. For every initial activity, you have to grease somebody’s palm. Your frustration with the system starts from there. You will be spending more time in managing the system rather than managing the business. The system and the vested interests puncture the whole dream of conceptualising an idea and making it happen. You are so tired fighting the system; there is little focus in growing the business. In the end, it is the middleman, who understands the system and who can move the levers in the system, that thrives.

The main reason for India to lose its cost competitiveness in the last few years is corruption. By electing an honest leader who will focus on good governance will help businesses to easily bring down the cost of their operations by 20-25 per cent. We need to elect good, honest leaders who will change the system, who will remove the vested interests, bring transparency and create a level playing field for everyone.

Most of the businesses in this country are honest and are waiting for a change. AAP will stand up for the majority who are honest and will challenge the minority who allow the crony capitalism to thrive.

Today, almost every businessman, I spoke to, from their heart supports AAP but only wants to look at the mainstream parties to remove uncertainty. But by doing so we are mortgaging our long term future for short-term gains. If we don’t support a change now, our next generation will not pardon us for our failure.

If India has to become a real economic super power, you not only need a strong leader but also an honest leader who will provide clean governance. This election is all about somebody who will focus on three Cs — Corruption, Clean governance and Crony capitalism. So, the election is not going to be decided on “Chai Pe Charcha” but on “ Chai Ka Daam”.

Ex-Infosys Director & AAP Member