'Taking moneybags along with the PM on tours doesn't send the right message'

‘The PM should keep some distance from them (businessmen).’

‘It will be better for the PM, the party and the government’

Former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak Kodipakam Neelameghacharya Govindacharya in an interview to Priya Sahgal/NewsX speaks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s affiliation to businessmen and their presence during his foreign tours.

Here are edited excerpts.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has been accused of favouring certain individuals. For instance, the Gautam Adani case. What’s your take?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be cautious. Julius Ceasar’s wife has to be above suspicion. Taking moneybags along on foreign tours doesn’t send out a good message.

MUST READ: How swachh is Narendra Modi's business 'abhiyan'?

But there is an argument that the PMO needs to send the right message to bring in investments.

This type of proximity is not needed. In the Jan Sangh days, we too had Nanani Deshmukh, who raised funds and had close relations with industrialists. However, we saw to it that no such industrialist was made a primary member of the party. It’s always better to keep distance by not directly interacting. There can be a few exceptions, but it should become a regular feature.

There was also the case of the PM attending the inauguration of a hospital opening.

Yes, Ambani… Adani in Australia. People will get the wrong impression...as in the case of facilitation of mines. The PM should keep some distance. It will be better for him, for the party and the government itself. The bureaucratic set will see such powerful people near the PM and (they) will tend to get influenced without a single word being spoken.

Image: (Below) Kodipakam Neelameghacharya Govindacharya, the former RSS leader.