Protecting corporate India from unjustified criticism, the Prime Minister on Wednesday (24 October) said that he does not believe in the culture of criticising the industry and the corporate sector, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI). He also emphasised the role of citizens as contributors to social transformation and how they should not identify themselves as merely tax-paying individuals.

"In our country, the general image is to abuse businessmen, industrialists. I don't know why it is so but it has become a fashion. This is not a line of thought I agree with," PM Modi said in a town hall meeting with professionals from IT sectors. “We have seen today, in this Townhall programme, how leading IT corporates are doing excellent social work, urging their employees to contribute to the society," he added.

This recent statement reaffirms the continued support of the PM to companies in India. In July, he stated that he was not afraid of being seen with big industrialists since his interests were honest.

“Those who blame me of befriending industrialists are the same who also meet these people but behind closed doors. Mr Amar Singh is here and he knows very well who meets whom behind closed doors. Agar neeyat saaf ho to kisi ke saath khade ho, daag nahin lagta (If you are honest, your image would not be tainted by anyone’s company),” he said.

Due to the efforts of the Modi government, India moved up 30 places in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Rankings. Also, Swarajya reported on 24 October that the number of crorepati taxpayers has increased by 60% in the last three years under the NDA regime.