2019 election is between secular and divisive principles : Sam Pitroda
Photo Courtesy : sampitroda.com
Sam Pitroda who is basically a telecom engineer is known to the world as an eminent technocrat, experienced policy maker, researcher and progressive thinker. Born in Odisha, he studied engineering in Gujarat, became a businessman in the United States, was the brain behind several innovations, served as the Personal Advisor to two Prime Ministers of India and is recognised as the harbinger of telecom revolution in India. This man of simple living and great thinking is also a confidante of Gandhi family. He was very close to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Sam Pitroda is the Founder Chairman of Indian Telecom Commission and Founder of C-Dot (Centre for The Development of Telematics) which paved way for the present mobile revolution. As Chairman of the National Knowledge Commission in 2004, he made several vital recommendations to the then Manmohan Singh led government on various issues. He founded the National Innovation Council in 2010 and subsequently gave advice and recommendations to the Indian Government. He has 20 Honorary Doctorates from various prestigious universities to his credit. Around 100 global patents are in his name for various researches. He has delivered lectures at various places across the globe. Presently the Personal Advisor to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, he is playing a key role in showing new directions to the party as its NRI cell Chief.
Vartha Bharati caught up with Sam Pitroda who was in Mangaluru on Sunday in the wake of the elections.
Here are excerpts from the interview.
Vartha Bharati : You have worked very closely with the former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. You are also an expert in policy making. What differences do you notice between the two previous governments and the present government?
Sam Pitroda : Firstly, it is the difference in principles, secondly the difference in programme implementation. Both Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh adopted a policy wherein, they took everyone into confidence in all works and also ensured justice to all communities and classes. But the present government has a completely contrast policy. This is dangerous to the nation. When the price of crude oil skyrocketed in the global market during Manmohan Singh regime, the nation's growth rate did not slip beyond 7%. What would have been the growth rate then had the crude oil price nose dived as of now? A Prime minister should not talk more and should not spend time in marketing. The Prime ministers I worked with had an urgency to do work. But the present Prime minister is more interested in publicity. That is a big difference.
VB: Don't you think there is the Congress folly here too ? The BJP came to power easily due to Congress failure...
Sam Pitroda: No, the Congress might have erred. But I would not term it as a Congress' failure. Maintaining growth rate at 7-8% continuously for around eight years is not a failure. Reaching out telecom facilities to 2 billion people is not a failure. The immense achievement in the power sector is also not a failure. The Congress Government has made many achievements. But nowadays it is the lies that rule. People are not attracted to achievement as easily as falsehood attracts them. They created clamour about 2G scam. Now it is proved false. They created a ruckus over National Herald scam and it was false. Not only Manmohan, even Rajiv Gandhi had to pay the price for such falsehood campaign. Bofors scam is also a big lie.
VB: What major organisational changes are expected in Congress under Rahul Gandhi's leadership?
Sam Pitroda: He is bringing about organisational changes one by one. Changes are made in the level of General Secretaries, State Presidents and other office bearers. Changes are also brought about in different frontal wings like Youth Congress, Women's, Students' Wing etc. Efforts are on to give a new image to Seva Dal. Everything will take place in phases.
VB: There is a feeling that the Congress has not developed as a cadre based party as BJP. How will you tackle this serious issue?
Sam Pitroda: It is not just a feeling. Congress was never cadre based party. But the party has a history of 100 plus years. It has the tradition of building the nation while being in power for decades. The Indian population has respect and admiration for the party. We have to strive to convert this into votes. The Congress is chalking out a strategy to develop Seva Dal as a powerful organisation. This work will be done under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.
VB : It is impossible to win the 2019 elections without attracting youth and women. But both these sections are closer to BJP at present. What will be your strategy?
Sam Pitroda : We have noted this problem. People are being lured with lies. Even people are at fault. They are easily attracted to those who present before them an illusory world. Just look how many talk about Mahatma Gandhi in social media. Who speaks about secular principles today? We will enlighten the people on these issues. We will highlight the difference between our government and this government. People themselves will have to decide.
VB : But Congress does not seem to be doing much to publicise secular principles ?
Sam Pitroda : This cannot be said as true. Congress is working in this direction, but it is not suffice. It has to make much more effort.
VB : How will the Congress perform in Karnataka elections ?
Sam Pitroda : As per my observation, the atmosphere is conducive to the Congress. I have the confidence that the Congress will gain maximum seats and come to power.
VB : How is Congress gearing up for 2019 general elections ?
Sam Pitroda : A strategy is being worked out after considering various facts. We will mainly present the failures of the present government before the people. The people need to know the truth. We will highlight our achievements. We will also remind people that the tall promises made by BJP are not fulfilled by this government. BJP may counter attack that our party is corrupt. But , now people know who are really corrupt.
VB : It seems leaders like Mamatha Banerjee, Chandrababu Naidu and others do not have much faith in Rahul's leadership ?
Sam Pitroda : This is not the question of belief. Everyone has the dream of becoming the Prime Minister. But that is not that easy. The party which gets the maximum seats get the PM post too.
VB : Is Rahul Gandhi ready to face Narendra Modi in 2019 ?
Sam Pitroda : Rahul is absolutely ready. But the next election is not only between Rahul and Modi. It is an election between two principles. It is the election between the secular principles of the Congress and the divisive principles of the BJP. It will be an election where people will reject the failures of the BJP. There will be no competition as to who will deliver a good speech. This is the nation building work. No one is running a debating society here to decide who speaks better.
VB : NRIs played a major role in the victory of Modi. What will you as NRI cell chief of Congress do to woo NRIs ?
Sam Pitroda : The BJP tried to woo NRIs through Gujarati businessmen and religious leaders in the name of religion, God and using money power. We are reaching out to NRIs. Rahul's programmes abroad are getting good response.
VB : As a technocrat , what according to you is the major change India has to witness in the next 20 years ?
Sam Pitroda : Presently the Information Technology is restricted to work for foreign companies. The same can bring revolutionary changes in the agriculture, education, health and small and medium industrial sectors. This will help the people of the country. I suggest the Congress to chalk out programmes in this regard.
Interview by: Noor Jahan
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UK PM Keir Starmer takes ‘China matters’ message on first Beijing visit
London (PTI): “Like it or not, China matters to the UK,” is the message British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is taking on his visit to Beijing on Wednesday, accompanied by a 60-strong business and cultural delegation.
Downing Street said the visit, which will also cover Shanghai, reflects the UK’s “clear-eyed and realistic” approach to China in terms of opportunities and challenges they pose by continuing to pursue cooperation while “maintaining guardrails” when it comes to the country’s national security.
The Labour Party government is keen to highlight its re-engagement with China with this first visit in eight years, coming close on the heels of a ministerial go-ahead for its controversial new “mega embassy” in London.
“For years, our approach to China has been dogged by inconsistency – blowing hot and cold, from Golden Age to Ice Age. But like it or not, China matters for the UK,” Starmer said in a pre-visit statement.
“As one of the world’s biggest economic players, a strategic and consistent relationship with them is firmly in our national interest. That does not mean turning a blind eye to the challenges they pose – but engaging even where we disagree.
“This is what our allies do, and what I will do: delivering for the public, putting more money in their pockets and keeping them safe through pragmatic, consistent cooperation abroad,” he said.
The UK PM is set to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Thursday for talks on trade, investment and national security, before travelling to Shanghai for a range of engagements with British and Chinese businesses.
Accompanied by a delegation of leading UK-based businesses, including Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover, sporting institutions, museums and theatre groups, Starmer is expected to push for access in areas such as the financial services sector, creative industries and life sciences.
“However, he will be clear that we will not trade economic cooperation for our national security. He will raise the areas where we disagree with China – being clear that we will always defend our national security and where viewpoints differ, frank and open dialogue is of vital importance,” Downing Street said.
Describing China as the world’s second largest economy, a crucial player in global supply chains and a growing military power, the UK said it is important to engage with its third-largest trading partner which supports 3,70,000 British jobs.
“We want to see trade flourish between us. From financial services to advanced manufacturing and the global energy transition, the UK’s strengths increasingly align with the rapidly evolving Chinese economy,” said Peter Kyle, the Business and Trade Secretary travelling with Starmer.
“The first duty of government is security, and we protect ourselves best through active engagement and pragmatic cooperation, not by shutting the door,” he said.
The visit follows the 2025 Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) that the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) claimed secured 600 million pounds in immediate benefits and the first UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) since 2018.
“The UK’s world-leading financial services sector is a cornerstone of our economy. With deep and liquid markets, and the FTSE hitting all-time highs, there are real opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation with China which supports jobs for working people and growth for businesses across Britain,” said Lucy Rigby, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, also part of the ministerial delegation.
The Opposition Conservatives have criticised Starmer’s approach to China, amid human rights concerns and espionage fears. “Starmer has already surrendered to the Chinese Communist Party over their plan for a spy-hub super embassy in the heart of our capital,” said shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel.
“The evidence is overwhelming that China poses a serious threat to our national security and it is clear Starmer is going to China without any leverage. He lacks the backbone to stand up for Britain and is bending over backwards to appease Beijing,” she said.
Following his trip to China, Starmer is set to travel to Tokyo to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to reinforce the UK-Japan partnership, said to be worth over 100 billion pounds and supporting 2,00,000 UK jobs.
