Lack of political consensus affecting decision-making: Patel

In the face of national criticism over policy paralysis, Union Minister Praful Patel has admitted that “lack of political consensus” in the country and “atmosphere of distrust” have been affecting decision making process of the Government.

He holds the Heavy Industries portfolio and his party, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is one of the allies of UPA at the Centre.

Stressing the need for political parties with different ideologies to engage in a “positive dialogue to arrive at a consensus” on developmental issues, Patel said the atmosphere of distrust and suspicion was making seasoned bureaucrats “hesitant” to make decisions.

Patel, while addressing Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture in Pune, urged the business community to impress upon political parties the need for a “constructive debate” to spur policy making process and development.

He lamented that opposition parties were criticizing the ruling party “for the sake of opposing” without going into the merits of proposals tabled by the government.

The UPA government has been recently under fire by the Opposition over the alleged irregularities in the coal blocks allocation in the country owing to which the entire monsoon session of the Parliament was washed out following demands of Prime Minister’s resignation and an independent probe in the matter.

Meanwhile, the outgoing president of the Chamber, Abhay Firodia, said economic reforms were being implemented in a half-hearted manner and there was a need for improvement in governance.

S K Jain took over as president of the Chamber at the AGM.

(With PTI inputs)

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