India Inc’s muted response to Nanavati report

India Inc has always been quick to react to changes on the economic front, but over the last couple of years, it has donned a new, pro-activ...

India Inc has always been quick to react to changes on the economic front, but over the last couple of years, it has donned a new, pro-active role. High-profile CEOs now often stick up for tribal rights or the environment, against reservation and social evils — from corruption to the Gujarat riots or in support of better education.

But the Nanavati Commission’s Action-Taken Report, tabled on Monday in the Parliament, is a different ballgame. After the furore it created in and out of Parliament, The Indian Express called more than a handful of CEOs and talking heads, to come up with: Only a few.

Noni Chawla, the well-known management consultant and ex-CEO of Max Healthcare, is among those who decided to respond. For Chawla, the message going out loud and clear from the fallout in Parliament of the ATR is ‘‘pure politics.’’

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‘‘One message is reinforced over the last two days: That politics often overrules everything — economic concerns, morals, or ethics… It is for political expediency that there are tainted ministers. Since Indira Gandhi virtually created terrorism in Punjab and propped up Bhindranwale. I wonder if ethics will ever be the guiding principle of politics.’’

Rahul Bajaj, chairman of Bajaj Auto, usually a strong spokesperson on some strictly-political issues, chose to be silent this time.

But few are surprised that the Sikh community feels the system has gone awry. According to young entrepreneur Manav Singh, whose Club One Air took off on Wednesday, it is time someone was taken to task over the 1984 riots.

‘‘Well, it has taken 21 years to get two people to resign, who are still holding party positions, so what more can anyone say,’’ he says.

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But on the business front, it looks like the economy will keep rolling right on. According to R. Ravimohan, MD and CEO of Crisil, ‘‘I don’t think these specific events (Nanavati report) make any difference when one takes a long-term view of the economy. This is a part of the democratic setup. The overall picture is quite satisfactory.’’

This goes well, of course, with Chawla’s parting comments: ‘‘The Sikh community in India has always been one to say, ‘Let us get up and get on with life and business.’’