India's corporate sector deserves to be simultaneously complimented and cautioned, both on account of what it did not do during the past two weeks of jingoism that followed Pokaran II. Compliments are due to the high degree of maturity it displayed in regard to the economic fallouts of the nuclear blasts. Neither it became hysteric to declare a retaliatory war on the multi-national corporations (MNCs) from the United States and Japan who imposed economic sanctions against India nor it showed symptoms of amnesia to the extent of ignoring the potential negative impacts of the sanctions. It had also not become a victim of Parkinson's disease to throw its hands up nor did it spread the fear psychosis of India's imminent economic collapse.Such mature corporate conduct deserves compliments particularly in view of the positive implications of a sparkling scientific achievement being marred by the attempted vandalisation of the US based MNCs, Pepsi and Coca Cola. Although not of a large scale, the surreptitiousoutburst of violence went to the extent of burning down trucks and breaking crates and bottles in Gujarat in the presence of a contingent of police who remained mute witness to the event. In Mumbai, hundreds of liters of Coke and Pepsi was just poured down the gutter, with nobody intervening even symbolically.
What this vandalism reflects is sheer madness. It is intimidatory in objective and barbaric in expression. These MNCs operate in India at our instance and according to the law of the land. We are bound to protect their honour, lives and properties, as we do in the case of our own corporates and citizens.
More than the risk of retaliatory vandalism on millions of Indians working abroad, such violent and crude expressions of resentment project India in poor light among the international community in regard to law and order, a major determinant of the competitive image of a country. India already has some bitter pills to swallow in so far as protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) isconcerned. It is in the Special 301 priority watch list in the US. With the growing image of an international outlaw, is it reasonable to expect MNCs to be lured by the vast market in India and in the process help us counter the negative impacts of economic sanctions?
Our corporate sector needs to be cautioned on its conspicuous silence on the vandalism of Pepsi and Coca-Cola during these weeks. Various foras including the apex chambers of commerce and industry remained rather indifferent to such brazenly crude attacks on the fellow corporates from the US.
This, perhaps, is not the first time our corporate bodies failed to unequivocally condemn mob attacks on MNCs, giving birth to suspicions of double standards when it comes to protecting the business interests of all their constituents. They were also mute when Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) was the target by an unruly crowd in Bangalore about three years ago.
Corporate sector needs to be stern and loud in condemning violence, who ever is victim, lest itstands the risk of falling victim to the same vandalism at later stages. Not only that it needs to be ruthlessly fair to all its constituents, it also should be transparent in being fair to all.
The author is the director research in National Productivity Council and the views are personal.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
