With the upload of a video on a social media website on which he discredited India's drone technology with the aid of a banned China-made DJI drone, the Leader of Opposition (LoP), Rahul Gandhi, was trolled and blasted by industry leaders and experts.
Gandhi's move invited scathing criticism from Smit Shah, the president of the Drone Federation of India (DFI), who stated that it was "unfair and misleading" to overlook India's emerging drone industry in favor of a Chinese DJI drone. The Chinese firm DJI Technology Company Limited, which has its business hub in Shenzhen, Guangdong, is behind the manufacturing of DJI drones.
Rahul Gandhi was operating a DJI drone, although they have been prohibited in India since 2022, Shah alleged in a video posted on X.
He asked how the drone was obtained and whether Gandhi had obtained the proper legal permissions needed to operate it.
"India's drone economy is still in the process of unfolding, and while more work remains to be done, to make blanket statements without putting forth tangible solutions is only delaying progress," Shah added, noting the collaborative work of industry captains, researchers, and policymakers in catalyzing giant leaps.
Shah also posed a question of law regarding Gandhi's use of the drone, whether he had a valid Remote Pilot Certificate and whether the drone was registered on DigitalSky, as required under India's Drone Rules 2021. He also asked whether Gandhi had obtained necessary clearance from the authorities, especially since his house and office are likely to be situated in restricted areas.
"Did he obey the rules, or does he believe they don't apply to him?" Shah questioned.
Mohandas Pai, Padma Shri awardee and former CFO of Infosys, also attacked Gandhi, questioning whether the drone was Indian or Chinese. Pai referred to India's rapid industrialization, stating that the country is now a global leader in steel, cement, automobiles, and mobile phone production.
"India is the 5th largest industrial manufacturing country globally today, 2nd largest steel producer, 2nd largest cement producer, 3rd largest automobile producer, largest two-wheeler manufacturer, 2nd largest mobile phone producer, and 3rd largest power producer, much of this in the last 10 years," Pai posted on X. He accused Gandhi of spreading misleading narratives that undermine India’s progress.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya also joined in, calling the video "brainless, misinformed, and misleading." He questioned why Gandhi would show off a Chinese drone when Indian startups are already producing drones that are as sophisticated, if not more sophisticated.
In his video message, Rahul Gandhi asserted that India does not have a strong production base of drones, alleging, "India has immense talent and potential. We need a clear strategy to build strong industries, create jobs, and lead in the global market."
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