Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, is planning to build what could become the world’s largest data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, according to a report by Bloomberg. The facility, expected to boast a total capacity of three gigawatts, would be a huge move in India’s tech landscape, easily outpacing current global benchmarks by a big margin. For comparison, the largest operational data centres today, mostly located in the United States, are under one gigawatt.
To support this ambitious move, Reliance is procuring advanced AI semiconductors from Nvidia Corporation. These high-performance chips are essential for the complex computations required by AI-driven tools, such as ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms.
The timing of Mukesh Ambani’s move is no coincidence. Globally, tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have been spending billions of dollars on expanding data centre capacities to keep up with the high demand for AI services. Earlier this week, a consortium including OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle announced plans to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure under a project called Stargate.
If this initiative goes ahead as planned, Ambani’s Jamnagar facility will not only surpass existing data centre capacities but also give India a competitive edge in the growing AI market. As of now, India’s total data centre capacity — just like the USA — is under one gigawatt. Tripling this capacity in one project would be a major milestone for the country, potentially accelerating its AI development.
While the scale of the project is unprecedented, so is its estimated cost. Building such a massive facility could require an investment of $20 to $30 billion, according to industry estimates. Although Reliance Industries has about $26 billion in cash reserves, funding such a project would still be a challenge. The company has not commented on the reports yet.
Ambani’s strategy appears similar to his approach in the telecom sector, where Reliance Jio disrupted the market by offering services at affordable prices. This time, the aim is to lower the cost of AI inferencing — the computational process behind running AI models — which can be prohibitively expensive for startups and established firms alike.
Jamnagar, already the site of Reliance’s oil refining and petrochemical operations, will now play a central role in the company’s push for renewable energy and AI. The data centre is expected to be powered largely by green energy, with Reliance building solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects nearby. However, experts point out that maintaining a continuous energy supply for such a massive facility may still require fossil fuels or large battery storage systems. Ambani has made it clear that his ultimate goal is to make AI accessible to everyone in India. “We want to offer the lowest AI inferencing costs in the world, making AI affordable and available to all,” he said last year.
Tag: Mukesh Ambani
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Mukesh Ambani buys Nvidia AI chips, plans to build largest data centre in India: Report
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The rise and contributions of the Indian diaspora
The Indian diaspora is one of the largest and most diverse global communities, with an estimated 32 million people of Indian origin living across the world. From the shores of the Caribbean islands to the bustling cities of North America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and beyond, Indians have built thriving communities that are often key to the economic, social, and cultural fabric of their host nations. Over the past few centuries, the Indian diaspora has experienced remarkable growth, playing an influential role in shaping the world’s geopolitical landscape, global markets, and cultural exchanges. This article aims to explore the rise of the Indian diaspora, their historical journey, the factors contributing to their migration, and their diverse and substantial contributions to their host countries and to India itself.
Historical Background of Indian Emigration
Early Waves of Migration
Indian migration has a rich history that spans centuries. The earliest recorded instances of Indian emigration occurred during the ancient and medieval periods, with Indians settling in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. Traders, scholars, and missionaries often traveled across the Indian Ocean, leaving behind traces of Indian culture and religion.
During the British colonial period (18th–20th centuries), however, emigration from India significantly increased. The indentured labor system, implemented by the British after the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, became the primary mechanism for the large-scale migration of Indians. Millions of Indians were transported to various colonies such as Mauritius, Fiji, the Caribbean islands, and South Africa to work on sugar plantations, railways, and in other industries. This wave of migration laid the foundation for the development of vibrant Indian communities in these regions, some of which still maintain strong cultural ties to their Indian roots.
Post-Independence Migration
After India’s independence in 1947, migration patterns began to shift. Many Indians sought better economic opportunities abroad, especially in Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The 1960s and 1970s saw the rise of skilled Indian professionals, including doctors, engineers, and IT specialists, migrating to meet labor shortages in these nations. By the 1980s and 1990s, the expansion of India’s global footprint, coupled with economic liberalization, further accelerated the migration of professionals seeking better opportunities in growing economies.
Factors Driving Indian Migration
Economic Opportunities
The most significant factor driving Indian migration has been the search for better economic prospects. As India’s population grew and its economic landscape evolved, many Indians faced limited opportunities for career advancement, education, and financial stability at home. Countries with burgeoning economies and labor shortages, such as the Gulf states, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, offered higher wages, better living standards, and improved career prospects.
In the post-1991 liberalized economy, India’s economic growth allowed many to take advantage of international opportunities. The rise of the Indian information technology (IT) sector also played a crucial role in facilitating the migration of highly skilled professionals to countries like the United States and Canada.
Educational Pursuits
The pursuit of education has also been a driving force for migration. Indian students have flocked to institutions abroad for higher education, particularly in fields like engineering, medicine, management, and the sciences. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada remain top destinations for Indian students, who not only benefit from quality education but also gain exposure to international networks, knowledge, and skills.
Political and Social Factors
In some cases, migration was driven by political instability, persecution, or limited opportunities in India. For example, during the period of political turmoil in India during the 1970s and 1980s, large numbers of people sought refuge or better prospects abroad. In countries like Uganda, Fiji, and Kenya, political events (such as Idi Amin’s expulsion of Indians from Uganda) forced many to leave.
Additionally, factors such as religious intolerance, caste-based discrimination, and economic inequalities led to waves of migration from certain regions within India to more developed countries, where better social mobility and opportunities were available.
Indian Diaspora’s Contribution to Global Economies
Economic Impact and Remittances
One of the most important contributions of the Indian diaspora has been in the form of remittances. According to the World Bank, India has been the largest recipient of remittances globally, receiving over $87 billion in 2020 alone. Remittances sent by Indian expatriates to their families back home have been a vital source of income for millions, contributing significantly to poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and overall economic growth.
The economic footprint of the Indian diaspora extends beyond remittances. Indian entrepreneurs and professionals have made substantial investments in their host countries, contributing to the growth of industries ranging from technology to real estate, hospitality, and retail. The Indian diaspora has played a key role in the global technology boom, especially in sectors like software development, finance, and telecommunications.
Business and Entrepreneurship
Indians have been instrumental in the development of several industries worldwide. In countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, Indian entrepreneurs have built successful businesses that employ thousands of people. In Silicon Valley, Indian-origin entrepreneurs have become some of the most prominent figures in the tech industry, with individuals like Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google), Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft), and Vinod Khosla (co-founder of Sun Microsystems) leading major global tech firms.
In the United States, Indian immigrants have made their mark in the healthcare sector, particularly in the fields of medicine and biotechnology. Indian-origin doctors, researchers, and health professionals are highly respected for their expertise and have contributed to the development of cutting-edge medical technologies.
Indian businesses have also flourished in the Gulf states, where large communities of Indians work in construction, retail, and hospitality. Moreover, successful Indian businesspeople, such as Lakshmi Mittal, who heads ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer, and Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, have become global symbols of entrepreneurship.
Contributions to Culture and Society
Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power
The Indian diaspora has been a powerful vehicle for the spread of Indian culture across the globe. Whether through Bollywood films, traditional dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kathak, or global cuisine, the Indian diaspora has brought India’s rich cultural heritage to the forefront of global consciousness. Cultural festivals, such as Diwali and Holi, are celebrated by communities of Indian origin in many countries, fostering a greater understanding of Indian traditions and values.
In countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, the Indian diaspora has been at the center of intercultural dialogues, promoting diversity, tolerance, and understanding. The popularity of yoga and meditation in the West is also largely attributed to the Indian diaspora’s efforts in sharing these practices with the world.
Philanthropy and Social Causes
Indian diaspora communities have also made significant contributions to charitable causes and social development, both in their host countries and in India. Many members of the Indian diaspora have been involved in philanthropy, supporting causes such as education, healthcare, and disaster relief.
The Indian diaspora has also been active in promoting educational initiatives, providing scholarships to students in need, and supporting schools and universities in India. The contributions of Indian-origin individuals to international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization further highlight the global impact of the Indian diaspora.
Political Influence and Advocacy
Engagement in Host Country Politics
The Indian diaspora’s political engagement has grown significantly over the years. In countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, Indian-origin individuals have been elected to high political offices, contributing to the political landscape of their respective nations. Notable figures include Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, and Priti Patel, the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, both of whom have Indian heritage.
Indian-origin politicians have advocated for the interests of the diaspora, building bridges between their home country, India, and their adopted nations. In the United States, for example, Indian-Americans have emerged as a significant voting bloc, influencing political campaigns, policy decisions, and international relations.
Strengthening India’s Global Presence
The Indian diaspora has also played a crucial role in strengthening India’s global influence. By acting as a bridge between their host countries and India, the diaspora has contributed to enhancing India’s diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties with the world. Indian-origin politicians, business leaders, and community organizers have often acted as ambassadors for India, lobbying for greater trade and investment, fostering bilateral partnerships, and promoting India’s interests on the global stage.
The Future of the Indian Diaspora
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the role of the Indian diaspora is expected to grow even further. In the coming decades, the Indian diaspora will continue to be a critical factor in fostering India’s global standing. The rise of India as an economic powerhouse, along with its expanding influence in global politics, will provide new avenues for the diaspora to contribute to their home country’s growth.
Moreover, as the Indian diaspora becomes more integrated into the societies in which they live, their contributions will likely become more visible and impactful. The focus will likely shift from simple remittances and labor to more complex forms of collaboration, such as joint ventures, innovation partnerships, and global research initiatives. -
Apple eyes bigger slice of India’s streaming market with Airtel deal
Bengaluru (TIP)- Apple is tying up with India’s Airtel to offer the telecom firm’s premium customers its music and video streaming services for free, potentially giving the US firm access to thousands of consumers in a price-sensitive market. The move comes as competition tightens in India’s $28-billion entertainment market and an $8.5-billion merger of the Indian media assets of Reliance and Walt Disney faces close scrutiny from regulators.
“Apple TV+ will come bundled with premium Airtel WiFi and Postpaid plans,” Airtel said in a statement on Tuesday, though the companies did not disclose a deal value for the partnership or information on costs.
With mostly English-language content, Apple TV+ is a small player in the Indian market, where its rivals include Netflix , Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s JioCinema. Apple is following competitors in bundling streaming services with telecom plans to grow its audience more quickly.
Premium users of Airtel’s broadband and postpaid services can access Apple TV+ and Apple Music later this year as part of their plans. Airtel will shut its music app Wynk in this process, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Airtel has about 281 million subscribers for its India telecom offerings, while its top rival, Ambani’s Reliance Jio, has about 489 million.
Ambani announces suite of AI tools called ‘Jio Brain’
Reliance Jio is developing a suite of tools and applications that span the entire artificial intelligence (AI) lifecycle called ‘JioBrain,’ Reliance Industries’ Chairman Mukesh Ambani said during the conglomerate’s 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, August 29.
The company will set AI-ready data centres at Jamnagar, in Gujarat powered by the company’s green energy, said Ambani. “We are also starting to use JioBrain to drive a similar transformation across other Reliance operating companies, and to fast-track their AI journey as well,” Ambani said.
“I anticipate that by perfecting JioBrain within Reliance, we will create a powerful AI service platform that we can offer to other enterprises as well,” he added.
JioBrain integrates 5G’s high speed, and low latency with machine learning capabilities such as anomaly detection, predictive forecasting and automation. The platform can train and apply machine learning (ML) models at the network edge and in the service provider cloud.
“This enables CSPs (cloud service providers) to apply machine learning to not only the network but also to a wide range of 5G services and industrial applications including image and video AI at the edge, probing at the edge, healthcare, education, gaming, and entertainment use cases,” as per Jio Brain’s website. -
Indian companies -Reliance, Tata, Serum Institute -on TIME’s list of world’s most influential companies
NEW YORK (TIP): Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries and Tata Group have made it to the prestigious TIME’s list of 100 World’s Most Influential Companies of 2024. TIME called Reliance ‘India’s Juggernaut’. Serum Institute is the only other company on the list.
This is the second time that Reliance has found its way into the TIME list. Jio Platforms, the firm that holds digital properties of the conglomerate, was included in the inaugural TIME 100 Most Influential Companies List of 2021.
TIME listed Reliance in the ‘Titans’ category (one of the five categories under which the companies were divided, other being Leaders, Disrupters, Innovators, and Pioneers).
Tata was listed in ‘Titan’s’ category while Serum under ‘Pioneers’.
“Reliance Industries was founded as a textile and polyester company 58 years ago by Dhirubhai Ambani. Today the sprawling conglomerate—which has aligned its growth with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a ‘self-reliant’ India—is the country’s most valuable company, with a market capitalization of more than USD 200 billion,” TIME said.
Now led by Dhirubhai’s son Mukesh, the Mumbai-based company has ventures in energy, retail, and telecommunications, among others, and has made its chairman Asia’s richest man, it said.
The publication went on to stated that in February, Reliance came out on top in a fiercely competitive race to dominate India’s burgeoning streaming market by striking a USD 8.5 billion merger deal with Disney’s India business.
“The deal will bring together more than 100 television channels and give the combined group around a 31 per cent share of India’s streaming market compared to rivals Netflix and Amazon Prime with 8 per cent each,” according to analytics firm Comscore.
Reliance has revolutionized several economic sectors in the world’s most populous country by making world-class products and services available at affordable prices with multiple innovations.
Under Mukesh Ambani, the firm’s telecom arm Jio revolutionized India’s digital landscape and drove digital inclusion on an unprecedented scale with the most affordable mobile data tariffs in the world.
It set up the world’s largest single location refining complex.
Reliance Retail is ranked among the top 100 retailers globally and in FY24 it registered 1.06 billion footfalls across its 18,800+ stores (67 per cent of which are in small towns and villages).
Reliance is investing USD 10 billion in building the most comprehensive ecosystem for new energy and new materials in India and has set an ambitious goal to reach net-zero carbon by 2035.
TIME described Serum as the world’s biggest vaccine maker, churning out billions of vaccines. The company makes 3.5 billion doses every year, including for measles, polio, and most recently, HPV.
“Serum’s CEO Adar Poonawalla says the company’s success can largely be chalked up to its private ownership. Not being beholden to shareholders allows it to keep vaccine prices low (the R21 will cost USD 4 a shot),” the publication said.
Tata Group, it said, was founded in 1868 and has a vast portfolio extending from steel, software, watches, subsea cables, and chemicals, to salt, grains, air-conditioners, fashion, and hotels.
“But as rivals have aggressively courted new businesses, it struggled to keep up with stiff competition. In 2017, after over a century of family management, N Chandrasekaran took over as chairman despite having no personal ties to the family—highly unusual when India’s business landscape is ruled by family succession plans,” TIME said.
As chair, he has transformed the group by investing in tech manufacturing, AI, and semiconductor chips.
In 2023, it became the first Indian company to assemble iPhones, and is building another plant, it said, adding that in September, Tata announced a partnership with Nvidia to develop an AI cloud in India.
“And this year, it announced plans for the country’s first major semiconductor manufacturing facility. The moves seem to be paying off: in February, Tata’s combined market capitalization reached a whopping USD 365 billion, more than the entire economy of India’s neighbor and rival, Pakistan,” it added.
This is the fourth edition of annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, highlighting companies making an extraordinary impact around the world. To assemble the list, TIME solicited nominations across sectors, and polled its global network of contributors and correspondents, as well as outside experts.
Then, TIME editors evaluated each on key factors, including impact, innovation, ambition, and success. The result is a diverse group of 100 businesses helping chart an essential path forward.
(Source: PTI) -
Twist in India’s election battle as Modi accuses rival of taking money from billionaires Adani and Ambani
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has claimed without evidence that his chief rival took “truckloads” of illegal money from billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, in one of the most unexpected twists in the heated election battle.
Ambani and Adani, two of Asia’s richest men, are said to enjoy close ties to the prime minister. Modi arrived in Delhi for his first inauguration as prime minister in 2014 on a private jet emblazoned with Mr Adani’s logo, and his face accompanied frontpage advertisements announcing the formal launch of Ambani’s telecoms company Jio, which has since rapidly risen to become a major player in a highly lucrative and competitive market.
Mr Modi’s latest attack on Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party has triggered a debate about the sudden change of thrust in the prime minister’s campaign speeches, with analysts speculating that his party was doubtful of its performance in the election so far.
Addressing a rally in southern Telangana state on Wednesday, MrModi accused Mr Gandhi of striking a deal with the billionaires.
“For five years, the Congress prince abused Ambani and Adani and now suddenly you have stopped. Meaning, you have accepted truckloads of illegal funds. You will have to answer to the country about this,” Mr Modi said.
He was “sensing something fishy” as the Congress party’s attack on the two billionaires had stopped overnight, the prime minister added.
Mr Gandhi responded in a video statement saying Mr Modi was “nervous” about how the election was going.
He challenged the prime minister to send investigative agencies to prove his allegation.
“Modiji, are you nervous? Normally you speak of Adani and Ambani in closed rooms. It is for the first time you have taken their names in public,” Mr Gandhi said. “You even know they send money in truckloads, is that your personal experience?”
“Send CBI, ED to them, get a thorough inquiry done as soon as possible,” he said, referring to federal agencies Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, both of which Mr Modi’s government has been accused of weaponising against opposition leaders.
“I want to repeat to the nation that the amount of money Modi has given to them, we are going to give the same amount to India’s poor,” he added, referring to Mr Ambani and Mr Adani.
Mr Modi’s attack came after Mr Gandhi’s consistent swipes at the prime minister and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party for allegedly having close links with business tycoons and championing policies favouring the wealthy over the poor.
Mr Ambani and Mr Adani come from Mr Modi‘s home state of Gujarat where their multinational corporations maintain major business operations.
Source: Independent -
Let Truth Prevail
On Modi’s accusation of “Chori ka Maal” (black money) being provided by Ambani and Adani to the Congress Party
In the midst of the ongoing political landscape in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant accusation during an election rally in Telangana on May 8, alleging a possible nexus between the Congress party and major Indian businessmen Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani. Modi stated that the Congress party, which had been vocal in its criticism of the Modi government for allegedly benefitting Ambani and Adani, had gone silent on the issue. He implied that the silence was due to an understanding or deal between the Congress party and the two businessmen, hinting at possible truckloads of “dark money” being supplied by the businessmen to the Congress party.Such statements carry significant weight, as the Prime Minister is the head of the government and a key political figure in India. His allegations against the Congress party, Ambani, and Adani have sparked a debate on the accountability and evidence surrounding such claims.
Prime Minister Modi’s remarks suggest that the Congress party’s sudden silence on the Ambani-Adani issue is due to an undisclosed agreement between them. His suggestion that the Congress party may be receiving “tempoloads” (truckloads) of money from the businessmen implies a major breach of ethical conduct and potential criminal activity, particularly when the general elections are underway. .If the Prime Minister possesses evidence supporting his allegations, he should present it to the relevant authorities and initiate a proper investigation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are responsible for handling cases involving corruption and money laundering, respectively. Modi’s public accusations also place an onus on him to follow through with his statements by providing any evidence he may have.
If Modi’s allegations are indeed credible, it would be essential to investigate the claims for the sake of transparency and maintaining public trust in the country’s institutions. The nation deserves to know the truth behind such serious accusations.
Should the Prime Minister fail to provide evidence to back up his claims, the situation could take a different turn. Accusations without evidence could be seen as an attempt to defame the Congress party, as well as Ambani and Adani, damaging their reputations and creating unnecessary political tension.
On the other hand, if Modi does present substantial evidence and it leads to legal action against the Congress party, Ambani, and Adani, it would signify a major shift in the Indian political and economic landscape. Such a revelation would have profound implications for the relationships between the government, the opposition, and major corporate entities.
The nation deserves clarity on these serious accusations, which have the potential to impact the political, economic, and ethical landscape of the country. The Prime Minister must present the evidence to the appropriate agencies or face the possibility of legal consequences for making unsubstantiated claims. As the political landscape evolves, the nation watches closely, eager to see how this situation unfolds.
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Mukesh Ambani reclaims top spot on Forbes list of India’s 100 Richest
New Delhi (TIP)- In a dramatic shift in the pecking order at the top, Mukesh Ambani has reclaimed the No 1 position on the 2023 Forbes list of India’s 100 Richest. The collective wealth of India’s 100 Richest is at $799 billion this year. India is on a high after hosting the G20 Summit in New Delhi this September and becoming the fourth country to land a spacecraft on the moon. Reflecting this sentiment, India’s stock market rose14 per cent since fortunes were last measured. However, that jump, tempered by a weaker rupee, was not reflected in the collective net worth of India’s 100 Richest, which flatlined at $799 billion. Mukesh Ambani, who transformed his Reliance Industries into a diversified conglomerate, reclaimed the No1 spot with a net worth of $92 billion.
The fortune of infrastructure magnate Gautam Adani, who rose meteorically to overtake Ambani as India’s richest person for the first time last year, reversed dramatically after a report by US shortseller Hindenburg Research in January sent his group’s shares tumbling. Source: IANS -
Campa Cola is back: Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance rolls out iconic beverage brand
Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL), the fast-moving consumer goods arm and subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL), on Thursday, March 9, announced the launch of the iconic brand, Campa, made for a new-age India. The Campa portfolio will initially include Campa Cola, Campa Lemon and Campa Orange in the sparkling beverage category. The launch of this brand was in line with the company’s strategy to promote homegrown Indian brands that not only have a rich heritage but also boasted a deep-rooted connect with Indian consumers, Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL) said in a statement on Thursday, March 9.
The company said RCPL’s roll-out of its cold beverage portfolio across India, starting with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is aligned with the company’s overall vision of offering value and choice to Indian consumers through high-quality products at affordable price points.
With this launch, RCPL said it further strengthened its versatile FMCG portfolio which comprises heritage brands from Sosyo Hajoori, confectionary range from Lotus Chocolates, Sri Lanka’s leading biscuit brand Maliban, as well as daily essentials under its own brands including Independence and Good Life, among others.
Cryptocurrency transactions to come under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, says govt
Any participation in transactions involving virtual digital assets or cryptocurrency, would come under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act or PMLA, the Centre has said.
This was announced through a gazette notification, issued on March 7.
The step has been taken to tighten misuse of digital assets.
Government in the gazette has warned investors against “participation in and provision of financial services related to an issuer’s offer and sale of a virtual digital asset”.
“Exchange and transfer of virtual digital assets would also fall under PMLA laws,” the notification further said. -
Modi has externalized his domestic agenda of spreading Islamophobia in India
Right now, India’s global reputation as a viable Democracy and a Secular nation is under scrutiny as it has descended into a major milestone of steep descent into darkness of bigotry and Islamophobia. Modi that is known to invoke values of pluralism abroad, has remained silent as Indian democracy is humiliated with international backlash. It looks like Modi has successfully externalized his domestic agenda of targeting minorities, especially the 205 million Muslims with impunity and hate speeches, and with official sanctions. Prime example is Anurag Thakur who was elevated from a Junior Minister to Independent Minister after he made a remark in Jan 2020 targeting Muslims for protesting against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, “Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko (Shoot the traitors of the country)”
By Dave Makkar For the first time in the 75 years history of Independent India, the government headed by BJP’s Modi is on the biggest diplomatic firefighting mission of apology to 15 Majority-Muslim nations and 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) over the derogatory remarks made on Prophet Mohammed by leaders of the ruling BJP. This time it was not just Indian Muslims speaking out and protesting on the streets all across India but on June 5, 2022 the governments of Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, Turkey, Maldives, Iraq, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Pakistan and Malaysia issued stinging statements condemning the comments. Some countries are demanding written apologies besides calling the Indian Ambassadors to register their protest. In some countries, there were massive street protests, and in Qatar, “Boycott India” campaign was also trending on social media.
Dinner to be hosted by Deputy Emir of Qatar for India’s VP Venkaiah Naidu was cancelled. VP Naidu was on a 3-day state visit to Qatar. Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Al Muraikhi warned in a statement that “insulting remarks would lead to incitement of religious hatred and offend more than 2 billion Muslims around the world.”
In response to this diplomatic row, the Indian embassy in Doha released a statement insisting that the comments were made by “fringe elements” and “do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India”.
The 57-member OIC . condemned the remarks and said it came in a “context of intensifying hatred and abuse toward Islam in India and systematic practices against Muslims.” OIC also urged the United Nations to take necessary measures to ensure that the rights of minorities are protected in India. The Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a halt to any sort of violence, especially the one based on perceived religious differences and hatred, amidst protests in India over the controversial remarks against the Prophet by two now-suspended BJP leaders.
This gigantic diplomatic backlash comes on the heels of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken naming India while releasing the State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report (USCIRF) on June 2, 2022. Blinken said: “in India, the world’s largest democracy and home to a great diversity of faiths, we have seen rising attacks on people and places of worship.” Rashad Hussain, the Ambassador-at-Large for IRF called out the Indian government officials, who he said are “ignoring or even supporting rising attacks on people and places of worship.” The report also mentioned several Hindu extremist leaders; like Yati Narasinghanand, Maa Annapurna Bharti, Swami Paramatmananda, and BJP’s UP CM Yogi Adityanath, a close ally of PM Modi.
USCIRF has recommended U.S. Government to designate India as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA); Impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for severe violations of religious freedom by freezing those individuals’ or entities’ assets and/or barring their entry into the United States.
“Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko (Shoot the traitors of the country)”: Anurag Thakur, Sports Minister of India. Right now, India’s global reputation as a viable Democracy and a Secular nation is under scrutiny as it has descended into a major milestone of steep descent into darkness of bigotry and Islamophobia. Modi that is known to invoke values of pluralism abroad, has remained silent as Indian democracy is humiliated with international backlash. It looks like Modi has successfully externalized his domestic agenda of targeting minorities, especially the 205 million Muslims with impunity and hate speeches, and with official sanctions. Prime example is Anurag Thakur who was elevated from a Junior Minister to Independent Minister after he made a remark in Jan 2020 targeting Muslims for protesting against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, “Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko (Shoot the traitors of the country)”
After assuming power in 2014, Modi has been allowing rather encouraging without punishment; Islamophobic remarks by members of his government, his Party BJP, state governments under BJP, Hindu organizations, Media & educational institutions. In all the BJP ruled states Muslims & Christians are openly being denied basic human rights, right to justice as well as right to worship. Muslims, especially male and female student leaders & activists are maliciously prosecuted under the directions from BJP ruled states or Modi’s central government. They are beaten & lynched in broad daylight. Muslim Houses are demolished in (Israeli style) Collective Punishment for valid protests termed as riots or turned into riots by BJP or RSS or other Hindu organizations or as unauthorized structures even if they are there for 30-40 years & some have government documents. Hindu owned houses with similar or worst status in the same vicinity are left untouched. On social media, female Muslim journalists, activist and social workers have been ferociously trolled and issued threats of the worst kind, including rape. Muslim women have been put up for sale in fake auctions. Islamophobic memes and hashtags, taunting and tainting Muslims in India has become the norm.
Also, since 2014, Islamic structures including Mosques are being targeted under the excuse that they were built 5-9 centuries ago after demolishing Hindu Temples. UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar etc. are being disputed as built on Hindu temples. BJP ruled Karnataka that is referred as “Silicon Valley of India” has gone one step further and started doing surveys of Christian Churches also to establish if they were built after demolishing Hindu temples. Whereas “The 1991 Act says that a mosque, temple, church or any place of public worship in existence on August 15, 1947, will retain the same religious character that it had on that day – irrespective of its history – and cannot be changed by the courts or the government”.
Fringe elements? Home Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of UP Yogi Adityanath. Modi’s government has maintained a studied silence or at the most has always blamed “fringe elements” for such actions. They do not hesitate even to include their own National Spokesperson currently Chairman of Tourism Department, “Sambit Patra as Fringe Element”. All this appears to have emboldened ordinary Hindus to beat Muslims in public, go online and tarnish Muslims with impunity. They publicly cry about being the victim and think they are entitled to revenge for what happened from 7th to 17th century. This itself constitutes a grave danger to the protection of human rights and may lead to further prejudice and marginalization, which will create a cycle of violence and hate against Indian Muslims including public lynching.
Role of Indian Media in spreading Islamophobia in India:
The Godi Media of India Prime Time debates in India since 2014 have become a platform to encourage Hindu hate mongers to speak ill about other religions. The anchors encourage hatemongering and allow BJP or RSS or other Hindu organizations spokesperson to speak rubbish that is corrupting the moral and social fiber of the society and can incite violence against believers of other religions.
These media houses are called as Modi’s Godi (lapdog), bikau (saleable), dalal (agent) and bharkau (inflammatory) Media This is how a major section of India’s mainstream media is labelled by most Indians, especially Muslims, Christians and low-caste Hindus, opposition parties, as well as ½ a dozen national media — all because of their brazen support for the ruling party BJP, its ideological parent RSS and the government.
Their journalists and anchors routinely engage in spreading hatred towards the country’s 205 million Muslim population and Islam, thus nourishing Islamophobia. They also demonstrate a clear bias against the country’s low-caste Hindus, the poor, and less privileged and weaker sections of society. They openly favor the rich and powerful that owns or finance their channels. Shamelessly they promote Hindutva & Hindu Rashtra– an ideology that seeks to establish the hegemony of Hindus and the Hindu way of life — spearheaded by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), its ruling political front Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Any criticism of the BJP is narrated as “anti-nationalist” and any individual challenging or demanding answers from the party is labelled “anti-Indian”.
Here is Media ranking in descending order in spreading Islamophobia in India:
Republic TV- co-founded and majority-owner Arnab Goswami is the channel’s editor and news anchor. Known for opinionated reporting in favor of BJP & RSS and their Hindutva-Hindu Rashtra agenda including uncritically reproducing government narratives, avoiding criticism of BJP/RSS figures, and presenting their political opponents in a negative light. He shamelessly shows his bias. He is the King; “No one can beat him in spreading hatred against Muslims and fake news”. On top of that no one can match him in shouting contest.
CNN News 18 owned by Poster Boy of Gangster Capitalism, billionaire Mukesh Ambani. A supporter & 2nd top financier of Modi, RSS, Hindu Rashtra; owns 65 channels: English, Hindi and 14 regional language news, business, entertainment, music, movies, youth, Kids, factual entertainment and shopping channels. Its star news anchor Amish Devgan is a Clone of Republic TV’s Arnab in shouting and arrogance, and routinely indulges in Muslim bashing and spreading fake news.
Aaj Tak – Owned by Arun Purie’s India Today Group, Aaj Tak has three of the worst Islamophobic anchors in the Indian media — Anjana Om Kashyap, Rohit Sardana and Sweta Singh. They are notorious for their vitriolic attacks against Muslims and spreading communal hatred. They routinely indulge in Muslim bashing, while show deferential surrender to anything the BJP does.
India Today (English) Also owned by Purie’s India Today Group with main anchors Rajdeep Sardesai and Rahul Kanwal. Rajdeep is mildly anti-BJP and a bit critical of Modi. Rahul Kanwal in 2020 became a full-time supporter of Modi, BJP & RSS and its ideology after a punishment for being openly critical of Modi.
Wion (World is One News) – operated by Essel Group, owns nearly two dozen Zee channels (some of them merged with Sony TV in Feb. 2022). Its chairman Subhash Chandra was a BJP supported Rajya Sabha MP till June 11, 2022. He has been promoting its Hindutva aka Hindu Rashtra agenda and anti-Muslim tirades. His star prime time news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary was jailed for demanding bribes for not publishing news; is also the editor-in-chief. He is the Hindi version of Republic TV’s Arnab as he openly supports the BJP, RSS and Modi.
Times Now- owned by Pro BJP/RSS Sahu Jain family of Times of India News paper’s Group. Rahul Shivshankar Editor in Chief, Navika Kumar Gp Editor; openly support BJP and RSS by promoting its Hindutva aka Hindu Rashtra and anti-Muslim agenda
India TV – Founder Rajat Sharma and his wife Ritu Dhawan. Rajat was a member of ABVP (Student Wing of RSS) & very close friend of late Arun Jaitley, the most corrupt Modi’s BJP Finance Minister in the history of India. He openly supports BJP and RSS by promoting its Hindutva aka Hindu Rashtra and anti-Muslim agenda.
ABP News – Owned Pro BJP Aveek Sarkar of Anandabazar Patrika Group. It used to be neutral, but it turned pro-BJP a couple of years ago. after the Modi government objected to criticism of the BJP and Baba Ramdev by its star journalists Punya Prasoon Vajpayee and Abhisar Sharma. Both were fired and Rubika Liyaquat joined to replace them to became the commander-in-chief of its news anchors. A Muslim, with angry rhetoric against Muslim leaders and do not allow any criticism of Modi or BJP or RSS or their policies.
Republic Bharat — This sister channel of Republic TV is funded by the BJP and RSS. Its anchor Sucherita Kukreti, a female version of Arnab Goswami in shouting and spitting the venom of hatred against Muslims.
Sudarshan News — Its chairman, Suresh Chavhanke, knowingly disseminates anti-Muslim content and manufactures fake news with communal overtones, which has earned him titles such as “bigot” and “dangerous”. He was a long-term RSS volunteer and associated with ABVP. And prefers that the news programs over his channel be viewed as opinionated campaigns.
News Nation – Deepak Chaurasia, the consulting editor of this channel, which is owned by News Nation Network, is known as a “puppet” of Modi. He always makes fun of all the political parties except the BJP and its allies. He is notorious for his over-the-top coverage of news issues and for being uncritical of the BJP government.
News24 (India) – Owner B.A.G. Films and Media, promoters are Anurradha Prasad, sister of BJP Union Minister R S Prasad, along with her husband, Pro BJP Congress politician Rajeev Shukla.
Ethnic Indian media in USA
Unfortunately, 97% of the Ethnic Indian media in USA are like their counterparts in India. Their anchors are no less than Arnab Goswami or Amish Devgan or Sudhir Chowdhary or Navika Kumar or Anjana Om Kashyap etc. when it comes to spreading Islamophobia and fake news while promoting BJP & RSS’s Hindutva & Hindu Rashtra agenda in USA.
A glance over the few important Islamophobic incidents in last 31/2 years that has led to the unprecedented international outcry against India for the Islamophobic comments made by ruling party BJP’s 2 senior leaders about Prophet Muhammad.
June 2018, Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochar was fired from JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai after he tweeted that followers of Islam had “terrorized” Hindus for 2,000 years.
Sep. 2018 in a public meeting, India’s Home (Interior) Minister Amit Shah compared the illegal Bangladeshi Muslims migrants with “Termites”.
April 2019 Home (Interior) Minister Amit Shah in an election rally again said, “Infiltrators are like termites in the soil of Bengal.” “A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government will pick up infiltrators one by one and throw them into the Bay of Bengal,” referring to illegal Muslim immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh.
April 2019, BJP’s Communal & a Criminal Hindu Priest CM Adityanath Yogi of UP the most populous state of India, spoke about a “green virus” in an election speech in reference to Muslim voters who he said were being wooed by opposition parties. In another election speech he referred Muslims as the “Taliban”
April 2019, BJP MLA Mayankeshwar Singh from UP’s Siddharthnagar in an election speech threatened Muslims with bodily harm for effectively just existing. “If Hindus in Hindustan wake up the beard will be pulled and made into a choti (a tightened braid). If you have to live in Hindustan you have to say ‘Radhe’ (chant Hindu God’s name), else, like those who went to Pakistan during the partition, you can go too… you have no use here,”
Dec 2019, PM Modi made a Islamophobic remark targeting Muslims protesting over Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA); “those indulging in arson “can be identified by their clothes”.
Feb. 2020, Modi’s Junior Minister Anurag Thakur while leading a pro CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) rally called a slogan, “Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalo ko (Shoot the traitors of the country)” targeting the ongoing Muslim women’s 24X7 sit in protest against CAA & NRC at Shaheen Bagh, Delhi. After Thakur’s rally, the city saw deadly communal riots which left 53 dead and 700 injured – majority of them Muslims. Shaheen Bagh protest (Dec 15, 2019 to March 24, 2020) was a peaceful sit-in protest in Delhi lead by women only. Anurag Thakur was rewarded and elevated to a Minister with independent charge in July 2021.
Nov. 9, 2019, Travesty of justice in Babri Masjid vs Ram Janma Bhumi; in a unanimous verdict the Supreme Court of India under CJ Ranjan Gogoi who was retiring on Nov. 17, 2019; awarded the land of disputed Babri Masjid to Hindus. However, the court added that the demolition of the Babri mosque was against the rule of law but do not propose any prosecution for those responsible for the demolition; basically acquitting all the 49 accused high ranking leaders of instigating the mob. Babri Masjid was built in 1528-29 and demolished by the Hindu mob under the top leadership of BJP, RSS, VHP & other militant Hindu organization in 1992. It led to riots in different parts of India that killed nearly 2,000 people. All the Hindu organizations led by BJP had started instigating the Hindus from 1989 to demolish the Mosque by making them believe that the land is the “Birthplace of Lord Ram”. On the other hand, Hindu scriptures say that “Kan Kan mei Vyape hein Ram” meaning “Lord Rama permeates every atom of this universe”. Ever since the Modi-led BJP came to power in 2014, India has seen deepening social and religious divisions. The demand for Ram Janam Bhumi became louder and clearer. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was rewarded by Modi regime in March 2020 by making him Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) member after awarding a verdict in favor of Hindus in Dec 2019.
April 2020, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya landed in a row for a tweet he had posted in 2015 with an “objectionable and disrespectful” comment about Arab Women. “95 percent Arab women never had orgasms in last few hundred years: Tarek Fatah.” Prominent businesspeople, lawyers and commentators in Dubai and Kuwait condemned his remarks. He deleted the tweet.
April 2020, When Indians living in Dubai began posting anti-Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi as a supper spreader of Covid, Princess Hend Al Qassimi warned that “anyone that is openly racist and discriminatory in the UAE will be fined and made to leave”. Under Modi’s Home Minister Amit Shah, attendees of Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi were accused of spreading the Covid-19 virus. Criminal cases were registered against several attendees including foreign nationals in the courts across India. in August 2020, the Bombay HC quashed three FIRs against 35 petitioners – 29 of them foreign nationals. The court observed: “A political government tries to find the scapegoat when there is pandemic or calamity and the circumstances show that there is probability that these foreigners were chosen to make them scapegoats. Some of the charge sheeted Muslims neither attended the Delhi congregation nor were they inclined to the Tablighi ideology, as evidenced in the case of eight charge sheeted individuals, whose case was dismissed by the Delhi’s Saket district court on 25 August 2020. The SC CJ Sharad Bobde observed “evasiveness” in that the Government of India’s affidavit filed in response to petitions challenging the discriminatory and communal coverage of the Tablighi Jamaat incident by some sections of the media. He termed it as “unnecessary, nonsensical” averments. On 16 December 2020, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of a Delhi Court, Arun Kumar Garg, acquitted the 36 foreign nationals from 14 countries of all the charges levelled against them.
August 2021, BJP leader and Supreme Court lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay made anti Muslim slogans including calling for Muslims to be murdered, in a rally in favor of the uniform civil code, at Jantar Mantar, Delhi.
Sep. 2021, BJP’s UP CM Adityanath Yogi in a public rally said that prior to his government’s formation in 2017, the ration (subsidized food grains) meant for the poor would get ‘digested’ by those who utter “Abba Jaan” as a communal reference to Muslims. In several parts of India, Muslims use the phrase “Abba Jaan” to refer to their fathers or as an endearment.
Oct. 2021, Uttarakhand BJP president Mandan Kaushik told the media, “Our party line is clear that no [religious] conversion [from Hinduism] will be tolerated.”
November 2021,BJP Leader Ashwini Upadhyay was featured on a panel on the imaginary bogey of ‘thook jihad (spit jihad).’ where he said, these thook (spitting) jihadis are either being taught all this by their parents or at their madrassas (schools).” He even suggested that Muslim men may be mixing other body fluids in the food they prepare for sale to Hindus.
December 2021, Upadhyay was a notable BJP presence at the now-notorious Dharma Sansad which took place at Haridwar. Known Islamophobic Militant Hindu Priest Yati Narsinghanand called Muslims “demons”, threatened to “eliminate” them and said he is striving to create an India “free of Islam”.
Swami Prabodhanand Giri said the country now belongs to Hindus. “This is why, like in Myanmar, the police here, the politicians here, the army and every Hindu must pick up weapons, and we will have to conduct this cleanliness drive,” he said while referring to Muslims. “There is no solution apart from this.”
Maa Annapurna Bharti, alias Pooja Shakun Pandey, “Nothing is possible without weapons. If you want to eliminate their population then kill them. Even if 100 of us are ready to kill 20 lakhs of them (Muslims), then we will be victorious, and go to jail.”
Suresh Chavhanke, owner of Militant Hindu channel “Sudarhan News”, administered an oath to turn India into a Hindu-first country. “We make a resolution until our last breath: We will make India a Hindu nation, and keep it a Hindu-only nation,” he said. “We will fight and die if required, we will kill as well.” He then tweeted a video of the oath to his half a million followers.
The event concluded with an oath-taking which called for the “protection” of the Hindu religion against all those who might pose a threat to it ‘by any means necessary.
Feb. 2022, BJP MLA from UP’s Dumariganj, in a video said, “Since I became an MLA, they (the Muslims) have stopped wearing skull caps. If you vote for me again, they will start wearing tilaks.” Again on February 15, 2022 panel on India TV, he interrupted a Muslim panelist to hurl religious slurs and abuses against him, threatening to feed pig’s milk (derogatory for Muslims) to the panelist, whom he described as a “b*****d dog and an illegitimate child of Hindus”. He was seen in another video threatening Muslims and accused all Hindus who did not vote for him of being Muslims. He said, “Any Hindu who doesn’t vote for me has Miyan (Muslim) blood in his veins. He’s a traitor. He is a b*****d son of Jaichand. He’s a sinner son of his father…I am warning you this time…traitors of Hindu religion will be destroyed.” Further he goes on to threaten Muslims by saying, “Listen Muslims, if any Hindu is insulted and if you look at any Hindu girl, then I’ll get you beaten so much and cut so much…that…”. The latter part of his warning drowns out amidst ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants.
April 2022, Bihar BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul said that Muslims should be set ablaze just as Hindus burn Ravana effigies during the festival of Dussehra. Earlier in Feb 2022, he had also said that Muslims living in India should be stripped of “Voting Rights” and treated as second-class citizens.
May 2022, 3 BJP MLA’s K.G. Bopaiah, Appachuranjan and Suja Kushalappa from BJP ruled Karnataka state Assembly were present at the “Arms training camp’ organized by the anti-Islam militant Hindu “Bajrang Dal”. A viral video on social media showed youths, appearing to be minors, in possession of airguns, trishuls (Tridents) and other weapons.
May 2022 in BJP ruled MP, a 65-year-old Hindu with cognitive disabilities Bhawarlal Jain, was beaten to death by a BJP worker Dinesh Kushwaha suspecting him to be a Muslim.
NEW DELHI, INDIA – JANUARY 21: BJP candidate from New Delhi Constituency Nupur Sharma arrives at Jamnagar House to file her nominations for the upcoming Delhi Assembly Elections 2015 on January 21, 2015 in New Delhi, India. Polling in Delhi will be held on February 7 and the counting of votes will take place on February 10. (Photo by Saumya Khandelwal/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) May 27, 2022, BJP National Spokesperson & SC Lawyer Nupur Sharma’s made derogatory and insulting comments against Prophet Mohammad during a debate on Times Now with Anchor Navika Kumar on the dispute over the Gyanvapi mosque. Pro BJP Navika Kumar allowed Sharma to make insulting remarks about the prophet and his marriage. The party’s Delhi media head, Naveen Kumar Jindal, subsequently tweeted another offensive comment about Prophet Muhammad, the most revered figure in Islam. This has incensed Indian Muslims and a week later outraged more than a dozen Islamic nations.
Hindus claim that the Gyanvapi Mosque in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi is built on the ruins of a grand 16th Century Hindu shrine – destroyed in 1669 by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb – and some are now seeking a court’s permission to pray within the mosque complex.
May 27, 2022, Former Karnataka Deputy CM and at present BJP MLA Eshwarappa issued a statement to media that 36,000 temples were destroyed to build mosques over them. He stated that all of them would be reclaimed by Hindus legally.
June 5, 2022, repeat offender for Islamophobic comments including calling for genocide & derogatory comments against the Father of the Nation, Mahatama Gandhi; Maa Annapurna Bharti alias Shakun Pandey inked a letter “with her blood” to India’s President Kovind, asking him to take action against Friday Muslim prayers, which she claims are an “anti-Hindu congregation”. She said, “Friday is not a day for prayers. Instead, it is a day for terrorism. The Friday congregations by Muslims are not for worship but for the genocide of non-Muslims, loot, arson and sexual harassment. Hence, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha demands that on Fridays, the entry of Muslims in small mosques should be restricted only to 10 Muslims while 25 Muslims should be allowed in bigger ones.
If all the above Islamophobic actions were done by the “Fringe Elements” then who is promoting and supporting “Islamophobia” in India? The answer is not difficult to find. It is India’s internationally known Hinduwadi and domestically known as Hindu Heart Throb aka Hindu Hriday Samrat aka Hindu King aka Prime Minister Narendra Modi…!! Under parliamentary system fashioned after the Westminster system the prime minister is the presiding and actual head of the government and head/owner of all the departments and executive power. The head of the state, the president in India, holds a largely ceremonial position, although often with reserve powers. In case of current President Kovind, it is a well-known fact that he only speaks the language of PM Modi.
Poster Boys of Gangster Capitalism of India. L to R: Rattan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, and Gautam Adani The next question is who is financing Islamophobia and Modi that is representing each and every Hindu organization that wants to make India a “Hindu Rashtra” ? The answer is the gangster capitalist of India that is supporting Modi. The current top 3 Poster Boys of Gangster Capitalism of India are Gautam Adani, Mukesh Ambani, and Rattan Tata. Their net worth under Modi’s 8 years rule has gone up by 175% to 350% and now they own all the major industries, including defense and service sector of India.
“Modi’s eminence is due to the surrounding flatness of India”.
Unfortunately, here the flatness means; illiterate, communal & criminal Modi’s high reputation is only because of the terribly low morals, ethics, honesty and talents left in India these days. Since 2014, India under Modi has become a sad story. Over 60% Indians are gladly willing to pay Islamophobic Tax, even if it begets them unemployment, poverty, hunger and even starvation! No one can save a nation in death wish mode.
(Compiled by Devendra Makkar from various internet sources & writings of prominent journalists)
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From Ambani to Birla, meet top 10 richest billionaires of India
We all know that wealth does not remain static and specially during the fluctuating industry scenario that we are facing due to the ongoing covid pandemic. But even in this tough situation where market continue to go up and down, India has produced several billionaires who occupy a significant number of slots on the list of wealthiest persons in the world today. And with just a few days left for the year 2021 to end, here is the list of the top 10 richest persons in India as per the Forbes.Mukesh Ambani
With a net worth of $92.7 billion, according to Forbes, the Chairman of Reliance Industries tops the list, yet again. During the lockdown period, Ambani raised $20 billion, by selling one-third of the stake of Jio to investors like Google and Facebook. He has remained at the top place for more than 10 years now.
Gautam Adani
The infrastructure tycoon has a net worth of $74.8 billion. Apart from infra, he has business interests in power generation and transmission, edible oil and real estate as well. Interestingly, Adani owns a 74 per cent stake in Mumbai International Airport.
Shiv Nadar
With a net worth of $31 billion, the co-founder of HCL ranks third this year. He is a leading philanthropist and has donated more than $662 million to his Shiv Nadar Foundation. His daughter, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, is the current Chairman of HCL Technologies.
Radhakishan Damani
Damani has a net worth of $29.4 billion. He owns 214 DMart stores across the country. In 2017, he became India’s retail king after a successful IPO of his supermarket chain Avenue Supermart.
Cyrus Poonawalla
The founder of Serum Institute of India, Poonawalla has a net worth of $19 billion. SII is the world’s largest vaccine maker. During and after Covid-19’s second wave, the majority of Indians got vaccinated with Covishield, a product of SII.
Lakshmi Mittal
The Chairman of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel and mining company, Mittal has a net worth of $18.8 billion. He has been frequently featured on the list of richest Indians. In January 2021, Mittal gave the CEO’s position to his son Aditya Mittal.
Savitri Jindal
The Richest Indian woman, Jindal has a net worth of $18 billion. She is the Chairperson of Jindal Group, founded by her late husband, Om Prakash Jindal. In 2005, after Jindal’s sudden death, the group got divided among their four sons.
Uday Kotak
Founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak has a net worth of $16.5 billion. The bank, which is now among the top four private banks in the country, was converted to a bank from a finance firm that Kotak founded in 1985. He was, initially, backed by Anand Mahindra for the bank.
Pallonji Mistry
Famous construction and engineering giant Shapoorji Pallonji Group is virtually controlled by Mistry. He has a net worth of $16.4 billion. Interestingly, SP Group also owns the water purifier brand, Eureka Forbes.
Kumar Birla
Head of Aditya Birla Group, Birla has a net worth of $15.8 billion. In India, he is also called the ‘Commodity King’. He inherited the empire after the death of his father, Aditya Birla, in 1995.
Richest people on earth in 2021 : With a net worth of more than $296 billion as of November 27, 2021, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is the richest person in the world, followed by Amazon’s founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos. The businessman has a total net worth of approximately $201 billion.
LVMH’s Chairman and CEO, Bernard Arnault, is the 3rd-richest person in the world, with approximately $164 billion in current real-time total net worth. Microsoft mogul Bill Gates ranked 4th with a personal wealth of $136 billion, followed by Larry Page with $127 billion.
RANK NAME TOTAL NET WORTH COUNTRY INDUSTRY
1 Elon Musk $296 billion United States Technology
2 Jeff Bezos $201 billion United States Technology
3 Bernard $164 billion France Consumer
Arnault
4 Bill Gates $136 billion United States Technology
5 Larry Page $127 billion United States Technology
6 Mark $124 billion United States Technology
Zuckerberg
7 Sergey Brin $122 billion United States Technology
8 Steve Ballmer $117 billion United States Technology
9 Larry Ellison $112 billion United States Technology
10 Warren Buffett $103 billion United States Diversified
11 Mukesh $91.1 billion India Energy
Ambani
12 Francoise $90.1 billion France Consumer
Meyers
13 Gautam Adani $78.1 billion India Industrial
14 Zhong $75.1 billion China Diversified
Shanshan
15 Amancio $70.5 billion Spain Retail
Ortega
16 Michael $70 billion United States Media & Telecom
Bloomberg
17 Jim Walton $65.0 billion United States Retail
18 Rob Walton $64.5 billion United States Retail
19 Alice Walton $63.1 billion United States Retail
20 Phil Knight $62.9 billion United States Consumer
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Reliance Retail to launch 7-Eleven stores in India
Adding to its burgeoning retail empire, billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Retail will bring 7-Eleven convenience stores to India, days after Future Retail ended its deal with the US chain.
The first 7-Eleven store will open in Mumbai on October 9 and will be followed by a further “rapid rollout”, Reliance Retail said in a statement, without providing financial details. 7-Eleven will add to the expansion spree of Reliance, which already has around 13,000 stores across the country. “The 7-Eleven stores aim to provide shoppers with a unique style of convenience, offering a range of beverages, snacks and delicacies specifically curated to appeal to local tastes, along with a refill of daily essentials, having affordability and hygiene at its very core,” said RRVL.
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RIL enters lithium battery biz via stake buy in US firm
New Delhi (TIP): Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL), the newly floated renewable energy unit of Reliance Industries Ltd, along with Bill Gates and other investors have invested $144 million in Massachusetts-based Ambri Inc, which makes batteries for power grids.
RNESL would be investing $50 million in the $144 million financing round, which Ambri will use to build a manufacturing facility and commercialise its technology, the company said.
The investment, which will give RNESL 42.3 million shares of preferred stock in Ambri, adds another piece to billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s energy transition jigsaw.
In June, Ambani had announced a Rs 75,000-crore investment into clean energy, including four Giga factories.
Ambri, which can supply energy storage systems between 10 megawatt-hours to more than 2-gigawatt hours, will make calcium and antimony electrode-based cells that can last over 20 years with minimal degradation and are considered more economical than lithium-ion batteries. Source: PTI
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Prosecute Modifor COVID Deaths in India
By Dave Makkar In last one year, rather than deploying resources in healthcare & vaccines; Prime Minister of India was busy in promoting himself, superstitions, quackery and mythology for Covid treatment like ringing of bells, banging of plates, clapping, lighting earthen lamps (diya) or candle, using Cow urine, Cow Dung, Quack Ramdev’s Coronil, his own minister Arjun Ram Meghwal’s Bhabhiji Pappad,and showering flower petals from helicopters on healthcare workers.
On April 21, 2021 India become number 1 country in the world for highest covid infections with 314,644 cases https://www.google.com/search?q=covid+infections+in+India+on+4-21-21&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS879US879&oq=covid+infections+in+India+on+4-21-21&aqs=chrome..69i57.26014j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
AND 2,104deaths https://www.google.com/search?q=total+covid+deaths+on+Jan+8%2C+2021+in+USA&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS879US879&oq=total+covid+deaths+on+Jan+8%2C+2021+in+USA&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i22i29i30.17870j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8, beating USA with 300,669 infections & 3,895 deaths on Jan. 8, 2020 in a single day. On April 21,2021 Covid infections in USA haddropped to 64,853&879deaths for a single day.
300,000 plus covid positive cases on April 21, 2021. 
2,000 plus deaths on April 21, 2021. Trump lost elections because of his initial sloppy handling of Covid and rising Covid infections & deaths. Voters punished himfor that despite his administration worked on a war footing to get/develop vaccines by different Pharma companies for the entire world.Under Operation Warp Speed initiated in April-May 2020, billions of dollars were given to Pharma companies in USA, UK & EU countries for rapid development of a Vaccine. His administration totally revamped the healthcare infrastructure from testing tomedical supplies manufactured in USA, to availability of additional beds.
On Sep. 18, 2020, USA had 48,887 infections with 949 deaths and on that day, Indiahad peaked with 93,337 infections and 1,290 deaths. Think about it, India got almost a year. So did America. The second wave is hitting in America too, and the entire world. Entire universe knew about it that there will be a second and third wave. The only way humanity can be saved is rapid vaccination. Still Modi had no clear vision or plan or will or honesty on vaccinating Indians.
In USA, as of April 20, 2021 an average of 3.5 million shots are administered each day and nearly 1 in 4 adults are now fully vaccinated. According to CDC about 130 million or 50.4 % of the adult population have been vaccinated, 86.2 million or 33.5% of the adult population from 18 & above had been fully vaccinated. Vaccine doesn’t mean second wave won’t infect. Many have been infected despite being vaccinated. But the good of the bad, for which the second wave has not yet taken the form of an epidemic in America is the vaccine preparedness of this country. Today, America has 600 million Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in the special warehouses for its 340 million people. On top of that USA’s Fiscal response to Covid is $5.3 Trillion for 340 Million people with $12,900.00 direct cash payment to a family of 4 making less than $75,000.00 plus weekly Unemployment and Covid allowance. Modi’sfiscal response is $90 Billion (IMF data) for 1,400 Million people with no direct cash payment or unemployment to its citizens not even to poorest of the poor.
In May 2020, a European-led fund-raising effort brought $8 billion in pledges from the world’s governments, philanthropists and leaders for coronavirus vaccine research.By Aug 2020, US, UK & EU with a combined population of 800 million had placed orders for 850 million doses of vaccine. In contrast, India with 1,400 million population under Modi, placed its first order of 16.5 million doses in Jan. 2021 and later, 100 million to the domestic producer Serum Institute of India. A control-freak instinct took over Modi and he announced only Center would buy the vaccines. There will not be any private buying. Non-BJP ruled states like Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi have accused the Centre of not supplying enough vaccines. Modi “Nationalized” India’s private vaccine industry and now Indians are paying with their lives.
Since Modi had no clear vision or plan or will or honesty on vaccinating Indians; instead of vaccinating 1400 million Indians in the country, sent vaccines and medical supplies to 23 countries to assure India’s victory is all around! Knowingly that India is only 1 % fully vaccinated and 7 % has got one shot! Since Dec 2020 rate of infections was rapidly increasing and Modi ignored it, now when Covid has become epidemic, Modi is asking for Moderna and Pfizer vaccines from America! I mean Modi is forced!! The search for popularity is really a staircase to go down. Modi must understand that the procession of dead bodies cannot be stopped by promoting WhatsApp University. When the dead bodies will talk, can hisfans of WhatsApp University then stop this?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary steps. In last one year, rather than deploying resources in healthcare & vaccines; Prime Minister of India was busy in promoting himself, superstitions, quackery and mythology for Covid treatment like ringing of bells, banging of plates, clapping, lighting earthenlamps (diya) or candle, using Cow urine, Cow Dung, Quack Ramdev’s Coronil,his own minister Arjun Ram Meghwal’s Bhabhiji Pappad and showering flower petalsfrom helicopters on healthcare workers.
Asia’s richest person Mukesh Ambani & his family were seen banging bells made of gold to scare Covid to go away on the call of Modi!
Unfortunately, Modi is surrounded by “Yes Men” although some of them are highly educated,not uneducated like Modi, but they also believe in superstitions, quackery, and mythology. Modi takes credit for every work including work done by previous administrations even going back to Nehru, and his own ministers. People around him worship him like a Deity, once his minister now Vice President Naidu said,“Modi is a gift to the nation from God”. Recently, Modi, to look taller than one of the founding fathers,Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, replaced Patel’s name with his at the biggest Stadium in India. Since Dec. 2020 the number of daily infections was going up. A spokesmanof Modi, citing that reason, announced that the Kumbh Mela will not start on Makar Sankrantion Jan 14, 2021 but on March 11 and will end on April 10, 2021. It was not that Modi cared about people getting infected and dying; he was more concerned about 5 state assembly elections and influencing Hindu voters with Kumbh Mela. In January 2021, the rate of infections was much higher, still in Feb 2021, BJP declared Victory on Covid under the able leadership of Modi by passing a resolution.
BJP declared Victory on Covid under the able leadership of Modi in a resolution, February,2021 That ebullient mood was communicated across the country. It is not that they wanted to get the economy going but wanted to get back to campaigning.
CEC, ignoring the infection numbers in Feb & partial March 2021 declared the election dates for 5 State assembly elections starting from March 27 and ending on April 29. The worst hit was West Bengal with voting in 8 phases from March 27 to April 29, followed by Assam in 3 phases and Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry on April 6 in a single phase.
An 8-phase election in Bengal for whole 1 monthand a 3 phase in Assam gave to BJP an edge to play Hindu-Muslim card. It also gave Virus a chance to skyrocketagain because of mega election rallies of BJP, being the 2nd super spreader after the Kumbh Mela that was attracting 1 million devotees a day with a total of 100 million celebrants in a month -long festivitieswith no mask andno social distancing!BJP gave a full-page advertisement in local and national newspapers with Modi’s picture to invite people for Kumbh Mela and election rallies. All of this was done when the country was already grappling with a COVID-19 exponential surge on day-to-day basis.
BJP gave a full-page advertisement in local and national newspapers with Modi’s picture to invite people for Kumbh Mela. (Image : Courtesy TheHindu, March 31,2021) 
Amit Shah at a road show in Bengal, April 21,2021
No mask, no social distancing!.. Compare this with a strict lockdown when India had just over 500 cases.Since 2014, there is a Hindu vs minority, including lower castes, Hindus and especially Muslims, narrative being promoted in India. It is a narrative to turn Indians against each other; to turn fellow countrymen against each other that they must hate each other based on their religion and caste. This is a sloppy, lazy and promiscuous argument that has been spreading in India since Modi took power in 2014. After the infections crossed 100,000 in a single day on April 6, 2021, Serum Institute asked for Rs 3,000 crore grant from the government so they can increase production. On April 21,2021, CEO of Serum Institute of India Adar Poonawalla told CNBC-TV18 on a question of price of vaccine. He said that GOI had only contracted for 100 million doses. Once the supplies were completed,SII revised the price. The new prices are Rs150 for the Center, Rs 400 for states and Rs 600 for Private Hospitals.
What Corona did last year –the first wave in India- that was just a trailer of a Tsunami. Because the first wave virus strain came from abroad. The basic immunity level of Indians is a little higher because 70-80% have been living in poor hygienic conditions, breathing foul air and drinking contaminatedwater. These are some of the benefitsof growing up in an immature country!
Modi ignored the warnings of epidemiologists who insisted that India would see a deadly second wave of Covid.The second wave has three major strains – they are so indigenous that they have mutated Indians in their immune system like in non-home ground adventure. It means, the Second Wave with domestic viruses ismuch more aggressive and much more infectious” and was now predominately affecting young people. Now it is people in their 20s and 30s who are having very severe symptoms and themortality rate among the young people is high. There is a shortage of beds, shortage of oxygen, shortage of drugs, shortage of vaccines, shortage of testing. Some have died waiting in the hospitals for want of oxygen. Some others died at the hospital entrances waiting to be admitted for necessary treatment.
India’s health scenario: 3 on a bed in a hospital. 
A Covid patient waits in a car for admittance to the hospital in Ahmedabad. India is going to have catastrophic loss of human lives in the coming months and Modi is responsible for all lives lost till now and the ones that will be lost. Modi’s incompetence to deal with the fearful situation can no longer be hidden. It speaks loud in his lack of any vision or plan to deal with the crisis, his criminal negligence of the urgent health care needs of the people in preference for his favorite sport-electioneering- and the mad desire to win elections. He should be held responsible forculpable homicide of thousands upon thousands of children, young men and young women,old men and old women of India. Will justice be done?
(Compiled & Edited by Dave Makkar)
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NIA claims suspended Mumbai Police officer Vaze admitted to planting explosives
Mumbai (TIP): The suspended Mumbai police officer, Sachin Vaze, said that he is being made a scapegoat after an NIA officer claimed that he admitted to planting explosives outside Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai. Sachin Vaze has been sent to NIA custody till April 3. Upon extension of custody, Vaze told the court that he is being made a scapegoat. “I have nothing to do with the crime,” he added.
During the hearing Vaze said: “I had investigated this case till I was in charge of it. Also, I wasn’t the only one, the crime branch and Mumbai Police did what they had to. Now, suddenly these charges have come up against me.”
The senior cop said that he had gone to the NIA all by himself but was suddenly arrested. “It is being said that I have accepted my crime. This is not true,” Vaze said.
Court has now asked Vaze to give his statement in writing.
Suspended Mumbai cop Sachin Vaze was today produced in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court. He has been in NIA’s custody for his alleged role in planting an explosive-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence Antilia in Mumbai on February 25.
Vaze’s NIA’s custody was supposed to end on march 25. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the NIA had invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the case.
Vaze, an assistant police inspector (API) with the Mumbai police, has been charged under sections 16 and 18 of the UAPA, sources said.
The NIA authority said that they have so far recorded statements of 35 people and their team is also scanning through 112TB of data. Meanwhile, sources saidNIA officers have also recorded the statement of the mysterious woman who was seen with Vaze.
‘Motive’
Investigating officer Vikram Khatale said: “During the probe, Sachin Vaze claimed that he wanted to be a super cop. He had planned to plant the explosives and later detect them. He wanted to make some name for himself.”
“We are, however, verifying his claim,” added the officer. Source: India Today
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Ambani security scare: Two cars allegedly used by suspended Mumbai cop Vaze seized
Mumbai (TIP): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday, March 18, seized two more luxury cars allegedly used by suspended Mumbai police officer Sachin Vaze, sources said. A Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was found parked outside Vaze’s residence in Saket area of adjoining Thane, an agency official said. A Mercedes car was also seized but it was not clear from where it was picked up.
The total number of vehicles seized has gone up to five, including another Mercedes, a Scorpio and an Innova.
The vehicles were brought to the NIA office at Cumballa Hill on Pedder Road here.
The NIA on Thursday called two policemen, including an aide of Vaze and a senior police inspector, for questioning, sources said. The NIA arrested Vaze on Saturday night in connection with the security scare outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.
Under fire over handling of the bomb scare outside Ambani’s house, Maharashtra Government on Wednesday shifted Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh to the Home Guard.
Senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale has replaced Singh as Mumbai police commissioner.
The NIA on Tuesday seized a black Mercedes from the Crawford market area in Mumbai and recovered from it the original number place of the explosive-laden SUV that was placed outside billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s residence ‘Antilia’ on February 25.
A 27-year-old travel operator said on Wednesday he sold the Mercedes-Benz car in February to a website that deals in used vehicles. He said he did not know Vaze. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday said Singh was transferred after some of his colleagues committed “serious and unforgivable mistakes”.
In his first public comments after Singh’s transfer, Deshmukh said he was shifted to ensure that the probe into police officer Sachin Vaze episode is conducted “properly and without hindrance”.
Deshmukh said the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the NIA are conducting the probe into the episode “professionally”.
He said that action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the respective probes by the NIA and ATS.
“This is not an administrative transfer (of Singh).
Some things have come to light through the probes conducted by the NIA and the ATS,” Deshmukh said.
“Some of the colleagues of the (former) Mumbai police chief (Singh) committed some serious mistakes. Those are unforgivable mistakes. Hence, he was transferred. Further action will be taken based on the probe report,” he added.
Asked about the BJP and the MNS’s allegation that political bosses of the officials are not being acted against, Deshmukh said, “The NIA and ATS are conducting the probe professionally. They will definitely find out whoever is guilty.” Vaze was arrested by the NIA on March 13 in the probe into recovery of explosives from the SUV. He was later suspended.
Vaze, an “encounter specialist”, has also been facing heat in the murder case of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of that SUV. Hiran was found dead in a creek in Thane district on March 5.
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Ambani bomb scare case probe reaches Delhi
MUMBAI /NEW DELHI (TIP): In the latest development in the Mukesh Ambani bomb scare case, the Delhi Police Special Cell have questioned several inmates in the Tihar jail after they tracked the IP address of the device on which the telegram channel ‘jaishulhind’ was found operating from the jail premises.
On February 25, an SUV containing 20 gelatin sticks was found outside Mr. Ambani’s residence Antilia in Mumbai. On the next day, a group identified itself ‘Jaish-Ul-Hind’ had claimed responsibility.
A senior police officer said the organization was on their radar after it claimed the responsibility for the blast outside the Israel embassy in New Delhi. Their investigation also led them to Tihar, and the case was under investigation.
“Intelligence agencies working on terror have never come across the organization. There were no traces of funding or any link with terror groups. It appears that it has been created for extortion in the name of terror organization,” said the officer. After the group claimed planting bomb outside Mr. Ambani’s house, it came under the radar of the Mumbai police and their investigation also led them to Tihar. As per the investigation report, it was found that the group was operating through Tor Proxy (dark web). Upon further exploitation of the phone, it was found that the virtual number apps along with other anonymous communication apps were being used by the target. Through various exploits sent to the target identity, upon access and analysis of IP address fetched on February 26.
The investigation report further reads that it appeared that the person was using a sim card to run Internet on the device to operate telegram channel @jaishulhind. After resolving the IP address, it was found that the mobile number was likely being used which the Mumbai police or other agencies concerned may investigate further to extract more evidence. After tracking the location of the number, it is suspected that it is used near/inside the Tihar jail. A senior police officer said the Mumbai police never visited the Tihar jail to investigate the case. The investigation is on. The jail authorities have been instructed to be vigilant and ensure no mobile phone is used in jail premises.
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Jio ranked 5th strongest brand globally
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s four-year-old telecom venture Reliance Jio has been ranked the fifth strongest brand globally behind the likes of Ferrari and Coca-Cola. The Brand Finance’s Global 500 ranking of the strongest brands globally, which determined the relative strength of brands, is topped by WeChat, according to its annual report on most valuable and strongest global brands. “Despite only being founded in 2016, Jio has quickly become the largest mobile network operator in India and the third-largest mobile network operator in the world, with almost 400 million subscribers,” it said. Jio was Mukesh Ambani’s re-entry into the telecom business, offering free voice calling and dirt cheap data for mobile phones. “Renowned for its incredibly affordable plans, Jio took India by storm through offering 4G to millions of users for free, simultaneously transforming how Indians consume the internet – known as the ‘Jio effect’,” said Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. It said brand strengths were determined through metrics of marketing investment, stakeholder equity and business performance. The assessment of stakeholder equity incorporates original market research data from over 50,000 respondents in nearly 30 countries and across more than 20 sectors.
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Ambani terms Donald Trump “a blessing in disguise for India”
Donald Trump’s executive order on #TravelBAN may have left the US and the world shocked, but India’s richest businessman believes the new US president may be good for the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
“Actually, Trump might be a blessing in disguise. It (Trump’s appointment) will help Indian talent and Indian IT industry to focus on solving problems in India,” Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani said today (Feb. 16) and called for strengthening domestic capabilities..
“The domestic market is huge and this provides an opportunity to improve people’s quality of life and to make sure industries are more productive,” added Ambani at an event organized by Indian IT industry lobby Nasscom.
“We have a very big advantage in this new world of digitisation. It’s very very important to be open, to have partnerships and not be closed. That is really a strength we should build on, and continue to be open and never think whatever the world changes. The world might want to build walls around. I think it is very important for us not to be influenced by those developments, to make sure that we are always open, always connected,” he said.
India’s $150-billion IT outsourcing sector has a massive exposure to the US and could be the most vulnerable to Trump’s protectionist stance. Outsourcing firms based in the country, which get over 65% of their revenue from the US, depend heavily on US work visas. Over the last couple of months, at least two bills to tighten norms for issuing the H-1B, the long-term work visa, have been proposed in the American congress.
Around 9.5% of India’s GDP comes from the outsourcing industry, which employs nearly 3.7 million people. The proposed bills have battered the stocks of large companies like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services.
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India produces 27 new billionaires in 2015: Hurun Report
India added 27 new billionaires and consolidated its position at number three on the list of billionaires, behind China and the United States, according to the Hurun Report 2016. India has 111 billionaires, compared to China’s 568 and the United States’ 535.
The combined wealth of India’s billionaires went up 25 per cent to $308 billion (Rs 211 lakh crore) as compared to last year. Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, and Cyrus Poonawalla of Serum Institute added $6 billion and $4 billion to their wealth, respectively.
The manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and technology sectors produced 22, 20 and 15 billionaires, respectively. Mumbai remained the headquarters of most Indian billionaires.
“Despite its slowdown and falling stock markets, China minted more new billionaires than any other country in the world last year, mainly on the back of new listings. Growth in billionaires for the rest of the world was held back by a slowdown in the global economy, the strengthening of the US dollar and the drop in oil prices. The number of billionaires, however, has jumped 50 per cent since 2013,” Rupert Hoogewerf, chairman and chief researcher of Hurun Report, said.
The richest Indians list did not throw up many surprises with Mukesh Ambani topping the list with a wealth of $26 billion, followed by Sun Pharma’s Dilip Shanghvi ($18 billion) and Pallonji Mistry ($13 billion) at number three. The data is till January 15.
The Hurun Global Rich List 2016 ranked 2,188 billionaires from 68 countries, up 99 from last year, in another record-breaking year for the world’s billionaires. The total wealth increased by nine per cent to $7.3 trillion, more than the gross domestic product of Germany and the UK combined and close to half of the US.
According to the list, 729 individuals saw their wealth decrease while 102 dropped out of last year’s list. Russian billionaires lost $130 billion, on the back of a further 19 per cent drop in the Russian Rouble and with lacklustre performance of mining, metals and energy. The average age of billionaires remained the same at 64 years, while 69 per cent were self-made. 31-year old Mark Zukerberg of Facebook was the youngest billionaire among the top 10.
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Rajinikanth, Vinod Rai among list of probable Padma awardees for 2016
NEW DELHI (TIP): The list of the prestigious Padma awardees is ready. As per practice, these awards are announced on Republic Day. These awards are given in three categories, viz., Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The award seeks to recognize distinguished and exceptional service in all fields such as art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, Science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry etc.
The current list contains 120 names across the three categories.
List of probable awardees
Vinod Rai – Retired IAS officer and former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai is credited with being the face of the anti-corruption movement in India for his scathing reports on allocation of coal blocs and 2G licenses.R C Bhargava – R C Bhargava is the former CEO and current Chairman of Maruti Suzuki Ltd, one of India’s largest automobile manufacturers.
Cherukuri Ramoji Rao – Ranoji Rao is head of the Ramoji Group which owns Ramoji Film City, Eenadu newspaper, ETV, Priya Foods and Ushakiran Movies.
Ashok Malik – Ashok Malik is a New Delhi-based senior Indian media person and columnist. He holds a position as senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation and writes for a number of national and international publications.
Pushpesh Pant – A noted Indian academic, food critic and historian, he retired as a professor of International relations from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and is one of India’s leading experts on International Relations.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar – He is a humanitarian leader, a spiritual teacher, and an ambassador of peace. Her spreads his vision of a stress-free, violence-free society through The Art of Living.Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry – He is an Irish Indian construction tycoon and chairman of Shapoorji Pallonji Group. Forbes estimates his wealth at US$16.3 billion as of November 2015. With his 18.4% stake in Tata Sons, he is the single largest shareholder in the Tata Group.
Dilip Sanghvi – Dilip Shanghvi is the founder and managing director of Sun Pharmaceuticals and one of the richest persons in India. As per the 2015 Forbes real time ranking, he is the richest Indian having surpassed Mukesh Ambani on the list.
Mahesh Chandra Mehta – He is a public interest attorney and has been recognised for his persistent fight against pollution-causing industries in courts. He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1996 and the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Asia for Public Service in 1997.
Ujjwal Nikam – A lawyer by profession, Nikam is an Indian Public Prosecutor and has been involved in several high profile cases including the 1993 Bombay bombings, the Gulshan Kumar murder, the Pramod Mahajan murder and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Barjinder Singh Hamdard – He is the managing editor of the Punjabi newspaper Daily Ajit. He has also been a member of India’s upper house, Rajya Sabha.
Ram Vanji Sutar – A sculptor by profession and has created more than fifty monumental sculptures in the last forty years of his career. The government bestowed upon him the Padmashri Award in 1999.
Jaya Jaitly – A politician, social worker and former president of the erstwhile Samata Party. Became active in politics after the 1984 Sikh riots and joined the Janata Party. Jaitly and George Fernandes later went on to form the Samata Party.
Prof Panjab Singh – A noted academician, Professor Singh is a former vice-chancellor of the prestigious Banaras Hindu University.
Dr. Praveen Chandra – A leading cardiologist and Chairman of Interventional Cardiology at Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon, India, he is proficient in a lot of new devices and technologies.
Dr. Pradeep Chowbey – A pioneer in the cadre of laparoscopic surgeons in India, he was one of the first to perform Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in North India. He serves as Joint Managing Director, Chief – Surgery & Allied Surgical Specialities and Director – at Max Healthcare Institute Ltd.
Prof. D S Gambhir – Considered an icon in the field of Clinical as well as Interventional Cardiology in India. He currently serves as the Group Director of Cardiology, Kailash Group of Hospitals, New Delhi & Noida, and Director of Cardiology, Kailash Hospital & Heart Institute, Noida.
Piyush Pandey – India’s premiere adman, Piyush is an award-winning co-executive chairman and national creative director of Ogilvy & Mather India and vice-chairman of O&M Asia-Pacific. He has several successful ad campaigns to his credit.
Dhirendra Nath Bezbaruah – A senior journalist and former President of The Editors’ Guild of India, Bezbaruah was Editor of ‘The Sentinel’, a popular newspaper of the northeast.
Shri Tejomayananda – Swami Tejomayananda is the current Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide. He has been associated with the Chinmaya mission since 1993.
Rajinikanth – The Tamil movie star did not restrict himself to regional cinema. He debuted in the year 1975 with a Tamil movie and since then he has done movie in Bollywood, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hollywood and Bengali films as well. Apart from being a superstar whose movies run houseful, Rajinikanth philanthropic deeds prove why he is a real hero as well. Recently, on his 65th birthday on 12th December he called off celebrations to mourn the loss Chennai faced due to floods. He is likely to be honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
Anupam Kher – He will be conferred with the Padma Bhushan. Anupam Kher is one of the few acclaimed Bollywood actors who have made their mark across the globe. He has featured in many Hollywood movies. Apart from acting in plays and movies, Anupam is a strong voice of India. He is an active participant in political debates and quite recently took it upon him to narrate the plight of Kashmiri Pandits in almost every eminent news channel of the country.
Priyanka Chopra – Bollwyood’s desi girl Priyanka Chopra won lauds from every corner of the globe with her debut American TV series ‘Quantico’. With this thriller, Priyanka became the first Bollywood actress to play the protagonist in an American show. She bagged the People’s choice award for best debutant. -
Ambani launches 4G service for employees
NEW DELHI (TIP): On December 27 evening, on the eve of founder Dhirubhai Ambani’s 83rd birthday and amid a lot of star-studded attraction, Mukesh Ambani launched Reliance Jio, the group’s 4G telecom service, for over 90,000 RIL employees.
The launch is a pre-cursor to the commercial rollout that is expected to happen in the next three months. The service will be free initially for employees of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).
The launch event was held at Reliance Corporate Park, with RIL’s other employees virtually connected at 1,000 locations.
A senior RIL executive said the move aims is to create thousands of ambassadors for Jio to beta test the product before its final rollout.
Jio Digital Life, as the service is called, wants to bring Internet to all. “1.3 billion Indians cannot be left behind as the world enters a new era,” Ambani said.
India ranks 150 out of 230 countries on Internet and mobile penetration, but Ambani is ambitious. “With Jio’s launch, India’s rank will go up from 150 to among the top ten in next few years.”
What India lacks is the eco-system, which Ambani thinks can be changed. Over Rs 80,000 crore has already been spent on Jio. The last time Reliance tried its hands in telecom, it disrupted the whole industry in 2002 with its ‘monsoon hungama, when it made mobile handsets available for Rs 500. From a device of the elite, mobile phones became the device for the masses.
This time it is all about services, or what can be called a house of content — from live TV, to video and audio calls, newspapers and a lot more.
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Mukesh Ambani India’s richest for 9th year
SINGAPORE (TIP): Industrialist Mukesh Ambani has retained the tag as India’s richest for the ninth year in a row with a net worth of$18.9 billion even as declining macroeconomic barometers flattened the fortunes of the country’s uber-rich.
As per Forbes magazine’s latest India rich list, Ambani was followed by Sun Pharma’s Dilip Shanghvi as second-richest with a net worth of$18 billion while Wipro’s Azim Premji retained his third place with $15.9 billion.
As many as 10 of them saw their net worth dip by over $1 billion each in one year, including Lakshmi Mittal, whose net worth dropped to $4.6 billion (ranked 8th with $11.2 billion). His rank too slipped three places.
In the top 10, Hinduja brothers were ranked 4th with $15.9 billion, followed by Pallonji Mistry at $14.7 billion, Shiv Nadar ($12.9 billion), Godrej family ($11.4 billion), Lakshmi Mittal ($11.2 billion), Cyrus Poonawala ($7.9 billion) and Kumar Mangalam Birla ($7.8 billion).
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IPL star-crossed? Team owners hit by bad luck
MUMBAI (TIP): A leading Mumbai businessman, once interested in buying an Indian Premier League franchise today wants nothing to do with the glamorous cricket league. He believes IPL is bringing bad luck to team owners.
Dramatic as it may sound, a quick look at where the owners have landed up post their IPL buys tends to lend credence to this expression of superstition. The businessman was insistent: “Vijay Mallya, Subrata Roy, Venkattram Reddy, the Maran brothers, even Lalit Modi – just look where they are. Isn’t it eerie?”
As facts go, the businessman isn’t off the mark. Subrata Roy is in jail, Reddy was arrested, Mallya is in trouble with the authorities, Maranowned Sun TV is having problems with the home ministry over security clearances, Lalit Modi is wanted by ED, and Sunanda Pushkar is dead. Even love has gone missing from Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta’s lives. And N Srinivasan has lost his prized BCCI president’s chair.Wait, not just Srinivasan. His son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, a mere cricket enthusiast according to his father-in-law, has been pulled up by the Supreme Court for talking to bookmakers and banned for life from cricket. Ditto with another part owner, Raj Kundra of Rajasthan Royals.
Those who have bucked the trend are movie star Shah Rukh Khan, India’s biggest businessman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita, and the Delhi franchisee GMR.
Heck, the league itself is now in massive trouble. The judgment delivered by the SC-appointed Justice Lodha committee has reduced the IPL to just six teams of which, again, some are in serious financial trouble.
T Venkattram Reddy, the strapping boss of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd, from Hyderabad, lost his team Deccan Chargers after cases of financial fraud with several banks began surfacing post 2011.
And the owners who replaced the team in Hyderabad – Maran Brothers of Sun TV -are also struggling. Once the eyes and ears of former DMK chief M Karunanidhi, the Chennai media barons are no longer politically protected. Apart from the cloud over their TV channels, they have had to sell their airline SpiceJet back to the original promoter.
Is this the reason why Parth Jindal of Bangalore-based JSW Group doesn’t want to get into the IPL?
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FOUR INDIANS FIGURE IN THE TOP 100 GLOBAL RICH LIST
LONDON (TIP): Four Indians have made it to the top 100 global rich list, as the country records for the first time more billionaires than Britain and Russia.
The world now has a record 2,089 billionaires with Mukesh Ambani being the richest Indian in the list.
The Reliance chief however ranks 41 in the top 100 global rich list.
The other Indians to figure in the top 100 are Dilip Sanghvi of Sun Pharma who is ranked 53, Pallonji Mistry & family who own Tata Sons ranked 60 and Wipro’s Azim Premzi who is ranked 74.
India has leapfrogged Russia and the UK to third place with 97 billionaires, 27 more than 2014. Manufacturing and Pharma are the preferred sectors with 23 and 14 billionaires respectively. Combined wealth of the Indian billionaires comes to $266 billion. Mumbai is headquarters to most of the Indian billionaires.
The latest Harun Global Rich List 2015 shows an additional 222 billionaires were created last year, almost a third of whom were in China. Bill Gates remains the world’s wealthiest individual increasing his wealth to $85 billion. Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim is second with $83bn, while Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg breaks into the global top 10 for the first time.
The US still holds the crown for most mega-wealthy residents, at 537. But China is not far behind with 430, having acquired 72 new billionaires in 2014.
Russia has 93 billionaires and UK has 80.
New York remains the favourite city of the super-rich, with 91 billionaires while London is still fifth with 49.
But six cities in Asia now make the top 10: Mumbai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Taipei and Shanghai.
The List ranked 2089 billionaires from 68 countries, up 222 from last year.
Mark Zuckerberg at 30 is the youngest member of the Top 10. His wealth soared 42%, moving him up 11 places to number 7.
The ‘Big Two’ in the list are the USA and China with 537 and 430 billionaires respectively, amounting to almost half of the billionaires on the planet. Russia had a bad year, losing 10 billionaires.
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Ambani, Birla, Premji share their vision of ‘Make in India’
At the star-studded launch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious programme, attended by the likes of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Tata Group chief Cyrus Mistry and Aditya Birla Group’s Kumar Mangalam Birla, industry leaders said job creation and high growth would be possible only if the manufacturing sector gets into a high growth trajectory. These factors will include the buildup of critical infrastructure across the country supported by stable policies, transparent and competitive tax and duty structure, efficient and time-bound administration through the use of egovernance, cost effective and reliable energy coupled with logistics, critical for the competitiveness of industry,” Mistry added. Pledging his support to the initiative, Ambani said in order to succeed in this campaign, it was important to be open to capital and expertise from all over the globe, and implementation of GST will make India one market and strengthen overall Make in India programme. Ambani, who announced that Reliance Industries would create 1.25 lakh jobs in the next 12-15 months, further said it was also important for villages to stay connected to be a part of growth story.
ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar said the ‘Make in India’ programme would become the next growth driver for the country. “Quite clearly in manufacturing we have lot of catching up to do. We need manufacturing to put the economy into a higher growth trajectory and to create millions of jobs,” Birla said “We need an educated workforce of thinkers to meet ‘Make in India’ vision. True success of manufacturing lies in being able to service global markets, said Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro.
