Need to create culture of transparency: Pilot

New Delhi: Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot today said trust and credibility of government as well as institutions should be maintained at all costs, and emphasised upon the need for creating a culture of transparency in governance.

Pilot, who took charge of the ministry following Sunday’s Cabinet reshuffle, also expressed willingness to tweak regulations if it can help in ensuring smooth functioning of things.

“I don’t believe that the governments should be prejudiced or bipartisan or partisan in any of their views. I believe we have to create a culture of transparency, clean government…,” Pilot said.

Speaking to reporters after assuming office as Minister of State with Independent Charge, he said he did not “want to be someone who creates a fear psychosis.

“I don’t want to be someone who creates an atmosphere of suspicion or finger-pointing or allegations of creating mistrust. That’s why I am reaching out to all stakeholders.”

He said trust and credibility of government and of institutions, has to be retained at all cost.

Pilot noted that if there is any wrongdoing that comes to the fore, the law would take its course applicable to everyone equally.

He said that in terms of regulations and compliances, there are laws in place. “And if something needs to be tweaked to enable things to make sure things function smoothly, I am very open to the idea…,” he noted.

Pilot assumes charge at a time when the ministry is looking into allegations of corporate wrongdoings including cases related to Purti Power and Sugar Ltd which is controlled by BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s firm.

Pilot said he wanted MCA to be an enabling ministry that facilitates growth and create a framework that makes investments easy and “reduces the cumbersome nature of the red tapism and the time lag that we have sometimes”.

Exuding optimism, Pilot said he was confident of fast-tracking some pending issues but did not disclose specific details.

Major bills—the amended of Companies Bill and the Competition Act—moved by the ministry are expected to be taken up at the next session of Parliament.

“I am confident that in the near short future, we will be able to see some fast track moving of some pending issues that have dogged us for sometime,” the minister noted.

Noting that he would take forward the positive reforms agenda on the table, Pilot said that efforts would be made to mitigate time lags.

“If there is something to be piloted at Parliament, I am looking forward to doing it and if there consensus building required to be made by talks with political parties, especially the principal Opposition party.

“I am more than happy to go more than half way to ensure that bills that are pending do get passed in the Parliament, because a law or a bill is not for a government or the Parliament, it is for the country,” he said.

The minister said that he would like to see investments in far off areas where sometimes people feel they are cut off from the Indian economic growth story.

“For that we have to have a trusting relationship between the Indian government and the private sector. We have to work hand in hand to make sure that we deliver on that front,” pilot added.

Further, he said the Ministry would make efforts to provide support to small and medium scale companies.

PTI