Miscellaneous - This Day That Age   

dated March 24, 1957: PM's call to businessmen

An assurance that the Government were not rigid or dogmatic in the formulation of their policies and had an open mind was given by Prime Minister Nehru, while delivering the inaugural address of the 30th annual session of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on March 23. He said the Government had a firm mind and convictions, and did not want to wobble in their progress. While conceding that the tax burden on the business community was heavy, he asked, "What about the burden of the 80 per cent of the population? Who would carry it?" The Government had assumed this burden and would carry it. Although they were proud of doing so, it was not mere pride but compulsion of circumstances that made them carry the burden. The Prime Minister said there was a "vast quantity of error" in what was talked about free enterprise. While India must learn from other countries, her economic and social planning must be fitted into Indian circumstances. Many points raised by the votaries of free enterprise were outdated, whereas Indian planning, as embodied in the Second Five-Year Plan, kept the roots in our soil and was also in keeping with the spirit of the present age. Mr. Nehru pleaded with the business community to maintain a sense of proportion between primary and secondary matters. Although he was not opposed to argument, he said, "We should not argue too much about things already decided upon, but get on with the work. The Government's policy had to be implemented by millions of people on the move."

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