Let’s see if you like me after the budget: Modi to CEOs

Let’s see if you like me after the budget: Modi to CEOs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a much-anticipated roundtable with CEOs of top global companies before his keynote address at the plenary session of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Here, TOI presents highlights of the eventful meet, including reactions to the PM's speech, accounts of chance meetings and some off-the-cuff revelatory comments made by the PM:
SOME CEOs REACH BEFORE OPENING OF DOORS FOR MODI SPEECH
With PM Narendra Modi scheduled to speak at 11.15 am, chief executives did not want to take a chance, given that the opening plenary is usually a full house. Some of them turned up as early as 9.30am but had to wait for the doors to be opened at 10.15 am.
52-MINUTE SPEECH BIT TOO LONG
When CEOs were asked to comment on Modi's speech, everyone dished out the highest possible praise. But in private, many said the 52-minute speech was a bit too long, especially the repeated reference to Indian heritage.
SUSPENSE OVER HINDI OR ENGLISH
Before Modi spoke, the big discussion in the media was whether he would speak in English or Hindi. The presence of a teleprompter suggested that he planned to speak to an international audience in English. There were some who suggested that the PM should stick to the rashtra bhasha, much like Xi Jinping at last year's meeting in Davos. It was only a minute or so after his speech started that the suspense was over and the people in the audience started putting on their headphones to hear the translation.