'Ease of doing corruption' has ended: Jaitley to Rahul

NEW DELHI: Senior union ministers, including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, on Wednesday, took on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over his comments after a World Bank report showed a dramatic improvement in India's position on an index that measures ease of doing business in 190 countries. India is now number 100, up from 130 last year, and its best ranking ever.

"The difference between the UPA and NDA - the ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business," tweeted Jaitley not long after Mr Gandhi took a swipe at him.

"Everyone knows the reality of 'ease of doing business', but it is a good thought to keep oneself happy 'Dr Jaitley'," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. In an election speech in Gujarat, the Congress leader alleged that "it is just a handful of businessmen who have found the going easier," accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of encouraging crony capitalism and failing to create jobs. "Ask small traders about ease of doing business."

"Does Rahul Gandhi understand what ease of doing business is," said law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, adding, "He is the vice president of the Congress and because of his family connections is expected to soon take over as the National President of the party. One would expect that a person on such a post has some basic understanding of how world institutions function and the respect they deserve."

The government is working with the World Bank to recognise over 200 improvements that will help propel India into the top-50 bracket in ease of doing business, according to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) secretary Ramesh Abhishek.

"We have already implemented 122 reforms this year, and are working with World Bank to recognise these. We will further initiate 90 more ease of doing business reforms this year," Abhishek told reporters on the sidelines of the CII Invest North conclave.