The Indian industry stands staunchly opposed to job reservations in the private sector, Bharti Group promoter and Confederation of Indian Industry vice-president Sunil Mittal has said as he vowed to fight the move at every fora.
"I would say anything that's going to hurt the industry's competitiveness will have to be fought. At what quorum, which place, courts or outside courts, or politically needs to be dealt with," Mittal, whose company offers telecom services under the Airtel brand, said in an interview to CNN-IBN.
But he did underline the role corporates can play in social uplift of weaker sections of the society.
"I am a strong believer that if India has to get the complete benefit of its large population and big market, if you will not carry the weaker sections of society, if you will not incorporate the eastern part of India into the mainstream, I think India will never achieve its glory," he said.
Mittal sought a time period of two years from the government to bring any law to introduce reservation in the private sector saying "...give us two years for affirmative action by industry on a voluntary basis. If it fails then let the government start using the (South African style) measures."
Asked whether he was saying this on behalf of the majority of industry in India, Mittal said, "I would say that in the last ten or twenty days of this debate, within CII at least, everybody and anybody who has been on the table for discussion supports this view."
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