Rahul Bajaj, an outspoken business leader, who minced no words

In the early 70's, the heydays of 'Licence Raj', Rahul Bajaj, 35-year-old, was chairman and managing director of Bajaj Auto

24x7liveindia
Feb 13, 2022 05:15
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Rahul Bajaj, an outspoken business leader, who minced no words

Bengaluru: Business eaders rarely air their concersn in full public views, it is an unwritten law in the corporate worls. However, harvard alumnus, Rahul Bajaj, was an exception to this rule. Whether its is Congress or BJP he didn't hesistate speak his mind. 

 In a career spanning over five decades, he led the group's flagship company, Bajaj Auto's turnover from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 12,000 crore, with the company's scooter Bajaj Chetak being the main growth driver. He was an alumnus of Harvard Business School in the US, St. Stephen's College, Delhi, Government Law College, Mumbai and Cathedral and John Connon School.

The young Rahul Bajaj single-handedly took on the socialisit and  protectionist approach of the then government's licensing raj, which restricted manfacturing off goods beyond stipulated limit. 

In the early 70's, the heydays of 'Licence Raj', Rahul Bajaj, 35-year-old, was chairman and managing director of Bajaj Auto. He was summoned by the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Commission. Because his compnay had produced more scooters than what was permitted under his industrial licence. The rules stipulated that a company could produce only up to 25 per cent over its licensed capacity.

Read: https://24x7liveindia.com/bajaj-group-chairman-rahul-bajaj-dies-at-83

Rahul Bajaj went to Delhi to face the three-member commission without a lawyer. The dynamic man emerged successful in the hearing and the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Commission allowed Bajaj Auto its expansion, also,the report complimented him for his knowledge and command of the facts and figures of the case. The commission report also mentioned that though there was a premium on Bajaj scooters in the open market and demand exceeded supply, our scooters were the cheapest. 

The ruling BJP was also not spared by the Bajaj Group Chairman for the political atmosphere in the country.  
In 2019, in a private event organised by Economic Times, Rahul Bajaj raised concern over “atmosphere of fear” before Union home minister Amit Shah at a media conclave in New Delhi.

"This atmosphere... it is certainly on our minds. Nobody will say...our industrialist friends will not say it. I will say that openly. An environment should be created. You are going good work but if we criticise you there is no confidence that you will appreciate that. I may be wrong. But we all feel that..." the businessman said, adding, "I can't speak for everybody... I shouldn't say this...".

"In UPA 2 we could criticise anyone...," he added.

"No need to fear about anything. The Narendra Modi government has been criticised continuously in media. But, if you are saying that there is such an environment, we need to work to improve this," Mr Shah responded.