Amitabh Kant, cheerleader to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Niti Aayog CEO, has said “tough reforms are very difficult in the Indian context, we are too much of a democracy.…”

Addressing a virtual event organised by Swarajya magazine, Kant said: “Tough reforms are very difficult in the Indian context, we are too much of a democracy.… You needed political will to carry out these reforms (mining, coal, labour, agriculture) and many more reforms still need to be done.”

Later, responding to a tweet from a newspaper, Kant tweeted: “This is definitely not what I said. I was speaking about MEIS scheme & resources being spread thin & need for creating global champions in manufacturing sector.” (MEIS is meant to reward exporters.)

It is not clear which part of the statement Kant was denying as the newspaper withdrew the tweet and uploaded a report on the event attended by Kant.

A video clip did show Kant saying: “Tough reforms are very difficult in the Indian context, we are too much of a democracy.…”