The COVID-19 crisis is an opportunity for India: TV Mohandas Pai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will enable India to power through the COVID-19 crisis and emerge as a winner, said a very confident T V Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Aarin Capital Partners and Manipal Global Education. He was in conversation with Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, The New Indian Express and author and columnist Shankkar Aiyyar on The New Indian Express' webinar series Expressions."He (Modi) has cleaned up India substantially. There is less corruption and now it is the time to grow India. During a crisis, it is easier to push through decisions," said Pai. "There is no other leader in the country who can take things forward. After his big speech yesterday, where he spoke about the Rs 20 Lakh Crore package, it is clear that he understands the problem. No one else has the will, vision and strength to push things forward and take unpopular decisions," he added, even as Prabhu Chawla wondered when we will see his "economic masterstrokes" to match his political ones. A few hours prior to the webinar, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had held a press conference where she had unveiled the details of the economic stimulus package to boost India's dented economy. When Chawla asked why the FM had steered clear of giving a "simple, easy to understand" breakdown of the package in "non-babu language", Pai said, "We have to wait for another three to four days to pass judgment on this. The MSMEs have been taken care of now and there will be massive spending on the infrastructure." However, he added that the indication was that the government of India had not shown too much concern for its middle class. "I don't think people like you and I are going to get anything. I don't think the government is concerned about the middle class," he added.