ADGP’s Disparaging Remark On Union Minister: Could It Jeopardize Investments In Steel And Heavy Industries? – OpEd

India’s steel sector is likely to witness nearly Rs 30,000-crore of investment and a rise in production capacity by 25 million tons in the next five years, according to a top official. Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, while talking to Economic Times, said, “Given the progress we have made so far, we are confident that, by the end of FY 2029, we will achieve a total investment of Rs 29,500 crore and an augmentation of production capacity by 25 million tons.”

But the dream of attracting investments to the sector took an ugly turn on Sunday (September 29) in a matter involving HD Kumaraswamy, Union minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, which the Karnataka Lokayukta is probing regarding a denotification case. In a letter (dated September 28, 2024) and addressed to the Staff of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Karnataka Lokayukta, M Chandra Sekhar, an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-rank Himachal cadre IPS officer, who heads the SIT under Lokayukta, advised his subordinates not to be deterred from discharging their duties, alleging that the former, in a press conference, had made unfounded and vile charges and threats.

Chandra Sekhar constituted to probe a case in which Kumaraswamy is an accused. He said the state JD(S) president was simply an “accused on bail”,  and charged him with demotivating his officers.

Chandra Sekhar, in the letter, said that the accused on bail, HD Kumaraswamy, had done this to stop them from carrying out their duties. Sekhar said his main aim was to intimidate officers of the SIT by launching a tirade against him. “But an ACCUSED, however high and mighty he may be, is an ACCUSED. Let us not get de-motivated by such allegations and threats.” He further promised to “protect” his staff “from all external influences”.

One might well have let it go if Chandra Sekhar’s rants had stopped at this. But this letter was appalling—in fact, singularly vulgar—as, in the second part of the letter, Sekhar referred to “a famous English quote by George Bernard Shaw” saying, ‘Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it’.”

Will His Rant Affect Investments?

According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) India’s finished steel consumption stood at 119.17 MT in FY23 and 138.5 MT in FY24. The Indian Steel Association (ISA) expected the steel requirement to reach 128.9 MT in the 2023-24 period, an increase from 119.9 MT the previous year.

Increasing Investments

A consolidation of players in the industry has led to investment by investors from other sectors, presenting a window even to global players into the Indian market.​ Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) short-listed companies are expected to invest US$ 1.2 billion (Rs 10,000 crore) in speciality steel-making next year and nearly US$ 1.9 billion (Rs 16,000 crore) by end-FY24.​

Policy Support

In February 2024, the government implemented different measures to promote self-reliance in the steel industry.​ In last year’s Budget, the government had allocated Rs 70.15 crore (US$ 8.6 million) to the steel ministry.​

Competitive Edge

India is home to the fifth-largest reserves of iron ore in the world.​ India’s steel production is likely to grow 4-7% to 123-127 MT in FY24. Low-cost manpower is easily available, besides abundant iron ore reserves that make India strategically well-poised on the global stage.​

Is All This Possible After…?

But to put things into perspective, in this instance, the derogatory language and comparison used by the very high-ranking police officer while referring to a Union minister, particularly the metaphor which compares a human being to a pig, raises a red flag about the professionalism of an upholder of the law, and the respect owed to public officials, regardless of their legal standing. It also raises serious questions about how foreign—and domestic—investors might be looking at India in terms of whether their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Vikshit Bharat-2047’ is well-placed. The vision aims to make India a developed nation with economic growth, environmental sustainability, social progress and good governance.

While the senior police personnel may not have had any intention to insult a Union Minister’s post, such remarks can not only undermine public perception of such exalted office, but also impact investment-seekers from locally and from foreign shores. It is essential to allow the law to take its own course, obviously.

Kumaraswamy, at the press conference had singled out ADGP M Chandra Sekhar and accused him of selectively targeting Opposition leaders to be in the good books of his political bosses. Kumaraswamy had alleged that Chandra Sekhar had been promised the rank of Police Commissioner of Bengaluru and the latter had even sought permission from the ADGP, Lokayukta, Manish Karbekar to carry out a probe against the staff at the Governor’s Secretariat regarding the “leak of communication between the Raj Bhavan and the Karnataka government”.

At the press conference, Kumaraswamy, says The Hindu, alleged that information about the prosecution sanction against him that the Karnataka government had sought had been leaked. He said that, last month, the Governor had asked the Lokayukta to explain how information had been leaked and that, this month, the ADGP had suggested that the officials in the Governor’s office should be probed… He has the audacity to seek permission from the government to conduct a probe in (against) the Governor’s office,” The Hindu has quoted the JD(S) leader as saying.

Kumaraswamy also accused the ADGP of “creating fake documents” to prolong his deputation in the state and being involved in illegal activities in cahoots with a person who has 2,500 FIRs that were filed against him to extort realtors, adds The Hindu quoting the JD(S) leader. Kumaraswamy allegedly also said that he had decided to submit all these documents to the Union Home Secretary.