I don't think Govt's business is to stay away from business.They can't be mute spectators.Any business in any country should certainly require the support of that Govt.Lets take some examples where Govt intervention has certainly helped.
1.Satyam scandal - Govt has intervened at the right time and changed the hands of the company and helped in staying the company float till now.This is certainly impossible w/o Govt intervention
2.Air India - Govt is still lending his helping hand to operate the company.Govt has poured in Rs.800 crore intially and promised more based on the performance of the airlines.
3.Mutual funds - As an investor I would say this is certainly a big relief for me in seeing all money getting into my investment.Govt has abolished entry load for ppl investing in mutual funds w/o any agents.Though it has triggered a hornet's nest still Govt is sticking it to its decision.
Even in developed economies esp during the recession many banks which were once considered "too big to fail" when tumbled like pack of cards ,Govt has helped them tide over the crisis by infusing billions of dollars w/o which we could not have recovered from downturn so soon.
I would Govt business is to stay in business as an entrepreneur,regulator,rescuer.
-Deepak.