Rahul Gandhi Faces Criticism for Using Prohibited Chinese Drone in Social Media Video
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Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi has drawn intense criticism for utilizing a banned Chinese drone in a video that critiques India's drone industry. Industry experts, including Smit Shah and Mohandas Pai, have called his actions misleading and questioned the legality of his drone operations.
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi criticized India's drone industry while using a banned Chinese drone.
- Smit Shah emphasized the unfairness of his remarks against India's growing drone sector.
- DJI drones have been banned in India since 2022.
- Legal concerns were raised regarding Rahul Gandhi's drone operation.
- India's industrial growth has been significant in various sectors.
New Delhi, Feb 17 (NationPress) Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition (LoP), is facing significant backlash from industry experts and leaders for showcasing a banned Chinese drone in a video uploaded to social media, wherein he criticized India's drone industry.
Smit Shah, President of the Drone Federation of India (DFI), vehemently opposed Rahul Gandhi's comments, asserting that it is both unfair and misleading to undermine India's expanding drone sector while simultaneously using a Chinese DJI drone.
DJI drones are manufactured by DJI Technology Company Limited, a Shenzhen-based company from Guangdong, China.
In a video shared on X, Shah highlighted that DJI drones have been prohibited in India since 2022, yet Rahul Gandhi was observed operating one.
He raised concerns regarding how the drone was procured and whether appropriate legal permissions were in place for its utilization.
"India's drone industry is still evolving, and there is considerable work ahead. However, making broad statements without presenting tangible solutions is unproductive. The collaborative efforts of industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers are yielding real advancements," Shah emphasized.
Shah also pointed out legal issues concerning Rahul Gandhi's operation of the drone, questioning if he possessed a valid Remote Pilot Certificate and if the drone was registered on DigitalSky, as mandated by India's Drone Rules 2021.
"His residence and office are likely situated in a restricted area. Did he secure the necessary authorization from the authorities before flying the drone? Are these regulations inapplicable to him, or does he simply disregard them?" he inquired.
Mohandas Pai, a Padma Shri awardee and former CFO and board member at Infosys, also criticized the Congress leader, questioning whether the drone was of Indian or Chinese origin.
Pai emphasized India's swift industrial development, noting that the nation has become a global leader in industries such as steel, cement, automobiles, and mobile phone manufacturing.
"India ranks as the 5th largest industrial manufacturing nation globally, the 2nd largest producer of steel, cement, and automobiles, the largest in two-wheelers, the 2nd in mobile phone production, and the 3rd largest power producer, much of this progress occurring in the last decade," Pai posted on X.
He accused Rahul Gandhi of perpetuating misleading narratives that detract from India's achievements.
"This is yet another clueless, misinformed, outdated, and completely misleading video," said Amit Malviya, head of the BJP IT cell, in a post on X.
"Furthermore, why showcase a Chinese drone? Indian startups within the drone ecosystem are creating these and even more advanced models," Malviya added.
In his video, Rahul Gandhi contended that India lacks a robust drone production base. "India possesses tremendous talent and potential. We require a definitive strategy to establish strong industries, generate employment, and take the lead in the global market," he asserted.
