Ratan Tata defends PM, slams media, opposition on Twitter

Tata group chairman Ratan Tata has said that prime minister Manmohan Singh must restore the credibility of the government and put the country on the path of growth once again with the implementation of promised reforms.

Hitting out at the opposition, media and "some members of ruling party", the chairman of the $100-billion conglomerate said it was "grossly misdirected" to single out the prime minister and blame him for the economic woes that the country was facing at the juncture.

"Now is the moment in time our Prime Minister must break convention, restore government credibility, place the country on a growth path once again by implementing promised reforms, removing roadblocks to growth and controlling crony capitalism," Tata tweeted.

He added "government action has been too little too late" with India losing growth momentum over the past 12 months amid declining growth and soaring inflation . "But to single out and blame the Prime Minister is grossly misdirected," Tata tweeted, adding he was "depressed to see the attacks on India" and "felt obliged to express my feelings".

Fully supporting Singh, Tata said: "It is sad and unfortunate that in the past few months the opposition, the media, some private citizens and even some members of the ruling party have mercilessly spoken and written about our prime minister -- a person who was the architect of the '91 reforms, which brought economic prosperity and international recognition to our country."

He added that the prime minister's detractors had chosen to overlook the fact that the warm-hearted prime minister had led our country with great personal dignity and integrity, Tata added.