Vayalar defends PM's "aam aadmi" remarks

New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Senior Congress Leader and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi today came down heavily on a section of the media for "attacking" Dr Manmohan Singh for prescribing a 10-point social charter for the industry, and said the Prime Minister was expected to speak for the poor people of the country.

Speaking at a function to launch the "Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre," he said " Dr Singh was the one who opened up the economy. It was he who facilitated flow of investments and made corporates become multinations. Therefore, he had to naturally remind the beneficiaries of such reforms that there are poor people down the line and they need to be helped." Criticising a section of the media for attacking the Prime Minister for his advice to the industry, he said "It is not the way to criticise the Prime Minister. Efforts have been made to create the impression that Dr Singh had committed a grave mistake." The Facilitation Centre is set up in cooperation with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Mr Ravi broached the subject as Dr Singh made his advice to the industry at a function of the CII a few days ago.

He asked the CII to take up the message of the Prime Minister to the members of the industry and generate positive response from them.

In this context, he said the CII could play an important role in the economic field with a social responsibility.

CII Chief Mentor Tarun Das and CII Director General Lt Gen (retd) S S Mehta were also present at the function.

UNI