On March 7, Rahul Gandhi, a top Congress leader, accused the country of essentially handing over its data resources to the US after its trade deal with India. He argued that important issues, such as data protection, were being ignored while the debate focused on trivial matters like what people eat and drink.
During a discussion with the IT community at Technopark, Rahul questioned the practice of providing "freebies" to the poor, asking why such generosity was seen as wrong, especially when referring to Adani and Ambani.
He raised concerns about the Indo-US trade deal, criticizing its impact on India's data resources. He argued that if India had declared its data the most valuable in the world, there would be no taxes on agriculture or small and medium businesses.
He emphasized the importance of understanding one's own resources. He highlighted India's vast diversity, large data pool, and skilled workforce as key assets.
He criticized the lack of discussion in India about the transfer of data to the US as part of the trade deal, suggesting that this was a missed opportunity.
He called for a discussion on how to utilize India's data resources, including its nature, access, and associated costs. He argued that the political system should focus on these critical questions, rather than focusing on trivial issues.
He questioned the continued provision of "freebies" to the poor, asking why these were still given after 80 years of independence. He also questioned the lack of discussion about the "freebies" given to Adani and Ambani.
He argued that if India were to stop providing these "freebies," it would also stop providing them to the poor.
In a later Facebook post, he acknowledged that subsidies for the poor are often referred to as "revdi" or "freebies." He called for a balanced discussion on the issue, taking into account all perspectives.
He stated that the "freebies" given to the poor are a reaction to events such as forgiving large loans to Adani and Ambani.
He argued that when discussing "freebies," it is important to consider both sides of the equation.
He also commented on China's industrial system, describing it as "superb and unmatched," but also as "coercive and undemocratic." He stated that while China has excelled in industrial production, the US, India, and most of the world are focused on consumption.
He expressed concern that India had allowed China to dominate the industrial production sector. He also criticized China's non-democratic and coercive system.
He argued that if India could build a successful industrial system while maintaining its democratic values, it would be a great service to both the people of India and the world.
Finally, he mentioned his personal interest in entrepreneurship in the aerospace world if he were not in politics. He also visited the Sivagiri Mutt at Varkala and interacted with women tea pluckers in Peerumade.