Rajya Sabha MP Arun Shourie urged the corporate sector in India on Sunday to raise its voice against the stalling of the reforms process by the ruling United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre.

"It is time for the corporate and industrial sector to take the lead in protesting against the stoppage of the reforms process undertaken by the previous governments in power," Shourie said.

Terming the Left parties as "hypocrites", Shourie said the Left is responsible for blocking the reforms process although they are trying to industrialise the states where they are in power.

"Only the civil aviation ministry and the railway ministry are taking forward the reforms that had been undertaken by the previous National Democratic Alliance government," the former disinvestment minister said during an interactive session with the Indian Chamber of Commerce.

Shourie lauded the efforts undertaken by the railway minister Lalu Prasad in transforming the Indian Railways into a profit making concern. "This was only possible because of the free working environment given by Prasad to the bureaucrats," he said.

Shourie said, the corporate sector should have been offered tax breaks so that they could invest in research and development, which is of utmost importance in the changing world.

"China is spending $90 billion in R&D activities while India is spending a mere $5 billion on R&D activities," he said.

Commenting on the Centre's stress on education in the Union Budget 2007-08, Shourie said stress should have been given on growth of higher education in the country.

"China is spending on higher education and setting up around 100 world class universities. This will fuel research and development activities in the country. India should also look at growth options in the higher education sector," he said.

"Instead of concentrating too much on micro economic issues, the government should take care of the macro issues concerning the country," he said, referring to the government intervention on the cement price.