'Hopefully, the PM will celebrate Diwali at home'
Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, was swarming with cops. There were three three security checks before Pramod Mahajan was available in a makeshift office that has been set up on the hospital premises. In the office, three men are busy downloading and printing out "Get Well Soon" emails and e-greetings. The put the printouts in three thick files. Each file must at least have 1,000 pages!
Mahajan was busy dealing with the throngs that wanted to meet the PM "personally" to wish him, but when he came for the Chat, he stayed on for beyond an hour to answer the queries on the PM's health, the government, and, of course, on his ministry: information technology.
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1201 IST)
Hello everyone! I am Chatting right now from Breach Candy hospital, where Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is recovering fast.
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000 1202 IST)
To everyone concerned about the PM's health: The prime minister is recovering fast, he has already started walking with the help of a walker in the room. In a couple of days, he may start walking in the corridors. Hopefully, he will celebrate Diwali in his official residence 3, Race Course Road, New Delhi.
RAVI KUMAR (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1204 IST)
When PM will resume his normal duties
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1207 IST)
Ravi Kumar: The PM has already resumed his normal duties. He is meeting ministers, officials, taking briefs from them, and guiding them. I think after Diwali, he will start taking Cabinet meetings and I am hoping that he will attend the Parliament session which is scheduled from the 3rd week of November.
NJM Raju (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1205 IST)
What is NDA Govt., stand on the resolutions passed by the RSS in their meeting 2 days ago?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1210 IST)
NJM Raju: The National Democratic Alliance has its own manifesto on which we fought the elections and won. And we will implement this manifesto in the next five years. Any new situation beyond this manifesto, can be reacted only after the NDA coordination committee deliberates on it and as NDA coordination committee has neither met nor is likely to meet in the near future, it will not be proper for me to react about the RSS resolutions on behalf of the NDA.
bis (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1209 IST)
Mr. Mahajan, why BJP was not in a position to project somebody as 'acting PM' when PM is indispose?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1212 IST)
bis: There is nothing like Acting PM in the Indian Constitution! The PM is the PM. There is nothing like even a deputy PM in the Indian Constitution. There is nothing like delegating authority of the PM to someone else. Only in the case of emergency, when the PM is abroad or indisposed, he can permit a cabinet colleague of his choice to preside over the Cabinet meetings. This has already done in the past when the PM was on tour.
The PM then asked Home Minister L K Advani to preside over the Cabinet.
Rajan Bala (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1212 IST)
Hello Mr. Mahajan,
Do you think you are a PM material? Are you working towards equipping yourself for that one day?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1214 IST)
Rajan Bala: No, I don't think so! So there is no question of working at becoming PM.
Manoj (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1213 IST)
Mr. Mahajan, Frankly what do u know about IT. r u in this just bcos its IT era or all r jumping into it
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1218 IST)
Manoj: No, I am not an IT expert. I have a working knowledge of information technology. And in our cabinet system, we don't expect the ministers to be experts in the portfolios they are dealing with. I can only say that I try my level best to study the IT related policy issues in the government and resolve it. My job is to have a proper IT policy, legal framework, and awareness campaign, which I am doing honestly, and to the best of my ability.
rishiban (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1217 IST)
Will u ask ur alliance partners to disclose their wealth ?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1221 IST)
rishiban: I think we should come out with a legislation which makes it mandatory for all elected representatives to declare their income annually. A few of them do it even now.
Shaji (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1217 IST)
Mr Mahajan: How are the relations with Sena Chief? He was very upset with the BJP's attitude towards muslim? Can you comment on that since you are the bridge between Sena and the Bjp in Maharashtra.
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1223 IST)
Shaji: I had dinner with him only last night. He is not upset with the BJP, on the contrary today he has declared that he supports the NDA government whole heartedly. About Bangaruji's speech in Nagpur, the whole media put it out of context. Why blame Thackeray only?
GAUTAM (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1223 IST)
sir also how does it reflect on our self respect esteem and national honour to have ten chief minsters of our country wating in queue to meet bill gates and feeling happy he probably smiled or shook hands with them????????
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1225 IST)
Gautam: Nobody was waiting to meet Bill Gates in queue. It was Bill Gates who invited the chief ministers of important states for lunch and accepting a lunch invitation cannot be seen as a wrong gesture. At the same time, one must also remember that when India is trying to be a global player in IT, keeping Bill Gates on the right side is good PR which nobody should miss!
bis (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1224 IST)
Will the prices of OIL be revoked or it was just to quell the tantrums of Ms Mamata? Specially when west asia cris is looming large and its effect on global oil pool.....
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1228 IST)
bis: Nobody in the government or NDA is happy for raising the prices of petroleum products. Due to unfortunate rise in international prices, this has happened. Frankly the government has passed on only one-third of international burden to the customers and two-thirds has been taken by the government of India. Yet, the PM has promised Mamtaji to have a second look when he returns from Mumbai and resumes his duties. I am sure the PM will have a second look somewhere at the end of October or early November. Let us all wait for that
Srini (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1227 IST)
Mr Mahajan: Why Bombay has lost to Bangalore and Hyderabad inspite of the fact that there is no power cut in these cities. Can you explain please since you come from the same city?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1230 IST)
Srini: As a minister for information technology in the government of India, my job is to promote Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, even Mohali and Guwahati at the same time. I am happy that there is a healthy competition amongst different cities of India to become the IT capital. Let us take a final decision when the Athens Olympics begin!!
Radhika (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1230 IST)
Mr Mahajan: Do you think this DF government will last its full term?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1232 IST)
Radhika: No, I don't think so. There is an inherent contradiction between the NCP's national and state politics. That makes the DF govt very vulnerable. By the way, history shows that Mr Sharad Pawar is capable of getting MLAs elected on his own, but by the end of the term, he is left with only five of them! This has happened twice in the past, and you know, history has a habit of repeating itself.
Venugopal H G (Sun Oct 16, 2000, 1231 IST)
What is your reaction of Court punishing for Mr PVN Rao and Buta Singh nad HUH....leaving
them on BAIL...too hypocritic is it ?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1240 IST)
Venugopal HG: At a personal level I feel very unhappy that somebody is punished at the age of 80. But, as a nation, all of will feel proud of our judiciary which has shown us that nobody is above the law. At the same time, one must also make some kind of introspection and change the laws so that the bribe takers are also punished. You can't clap with one hand! I really feel sorry for Narasimha Rao, what he did was to save Congress government in power; what he did was in his capacity as a Congress PM and Congress president; today, the whole Congress party is disowning him and saying that law will take its own course. These are the same people who forced Narasimha Rao to go to Race Course after Rajiv's assassination. That exposes the Congress culture. Courts might have punished Narasimha Rao, but the people's courts should punish the Congress party.
Radhika (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1236 IST)
Mr Mahajan: Why do you always wear kurta pyjama. i have never seen you in trousers? is it because of some swadeshi connection?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1241 IST)
Radhika: No, I wear all kinds of clothes!
Radhika (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1238 IST)
Mr Mahajan: What are the achievements of NDA government in the last one year. Can you please tell us. Atleast, what is your achievement as IT minister?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1244 IST)
Radhika: The greatest achievement of IT ministry is IT Act 2000. By passing this act, we have become a part of digital dozen in the world. Now, we are one of the first 12 countries who have made e-commerce and e-governance legal. I am very happy to announce in answering your question that the rules and regulations under this law have been framed, a controller has been appointed, and from tomorrow (October 17), certifying authorities can start applying and very soon, digital signatures will become a reality and hopefully, from 2001, e-commerce and e-governance will have legal support.
Suhas (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1242 IST)
Mr Mahajan: What is the NDA government doing on the drought issue which is going to hit the country? Is the PM aware of this situation?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1246 IST)
Suhas: Yes, the PM is aware of the drought situation in the country. He has already asked the agriculture minister and the finance minister to look into this problem. He is determined to fight this natural calamity in cooperation with the state governments.
deshpremi (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1246, IST)
Shri Mahajan: Namashkar! What need is there for you to be spokesman? what happens to the it ministry when you are here? what negilgence of duty!
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1247 IST)
deshpremi: IT is a locationless industry, so is the ministry! I don't have to be physically in my Delhi office to run the ministry. With a palm top in hand and proper connectivity, I can run the ministry right from the top of Mount Everest, why not from Breach Candy!
ashok (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1247 IST)
Mr. Mahajan, what percentage of the Indian polity would be internet-literate as of today, in your view ?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1249 IST)
ashok: The internet penetration in this country is not even one percent! Politicians are not outside the society. But I can say with emphasis, that Indian politicians interest in IT is no less than their counterparts in any other country. Even Bill Gates admits this!!
deshpremi (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1251 IST)
so you have a palm top? and do you know how to use it?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1253 IST)
deshpremi: Yes.
GAUTAM (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1253 IST)
SIR DO U REALLY FEEL THE PROJECT OF THE U P GOVT TO GIVE FREE LAPTOPS TO ALL MLA S WPOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE INTERNET OR WOULD IT FURTHER BURDEN THE ALREADY MISERABLE FINANVCIAL SITUATION OF THE STATE WHERE IT IS BORROWOING FROM IMF EVEN TO PAY IS MONTHLY PAY BILLS TO EMPLOYEES????
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1255 IST)
Gautam: For any success in IT, apart from IT literacy, what you need is connectivity and electricty. We are aware of this triangle of literacy-electricity-connectivity. Literacy is easy, connectivity is within reach, but electricty is still more difficult and we have to tackle this problem in a coherent manner. At a policy level, we have taken all decisions which we should to increase the bandwidth and electric power. But it will take a couple of years to actually get the needed bandwidth with energy support.
Mahesh (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1252 IST)
Mr Mahajan: What is the point in giving laptops to the MLAs and MPs. You may be using it. But do you think a man like Ramprakash Gupta, Laloo Yadav of Mulayam Singh must be knowing ABC of that. BTW, what is the IT ministry doing to develop software in Hindi?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1156 IST)
Mahesh: If India really wants to become a global player in IT and if we want to take IT to the masses, politicians are needed to be trained in minimum knowledge of IT. It is very easy to make fun of these leaders, but you should never forget that these are the modern day rulers. BTW, did you ever get elected to a panchayat in your life?
vikram (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1255 IST)
Mr mahajan,if you want promote IT sector your goverment accept it first in its functioning, not only to invite Foriegn invesment,
any comment
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1258 IST)
vikram: I absolutely agree with you. What people expect from govt is efficiency, and transparency. IT gives both. And so it will be my endeavour to see more and more IT is used in govt functioning. Today, it is optional, tomorrow, it has to be mandatory. The people in govt service already have to be trained but for those who will join in future, IT knowledge will be mandatory. And now as IT law is in place, it is all legal. I am sure in a few years down the line, most of the government will be online.
NJM Raju (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1251 IST)
Sir, as you are a minister of Parliamentary Affiars also, I would like to know whether Hon'ble President of India has given consent for 88th Constitution Amendment for SCs/STs, which was passed by both the houses in its last session?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1300 IST)
NJM Raju: Off hand, it is difficult for me to answer your question. I will have to check up, but it is a formality. In our history, the President has never refused to sign a constitutional amendment made by Parliament.
SJ (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1258 IST)
Mr Mahajan, Looking to The technology of Voice over IP ( Internet Telephony ) is your ministry planning to push the case of Internet telephony with Telcom Ministry as Internet Telephony will be in your domain.
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1301 IST)
SJ: Yes, one day or the other, we will have to allow telephony over internet. My ministry directly doesn't deal with it, but I will take up this issue with the telecommunications minister.
ashok (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1255 IST)
Thank you for your answer Mr. Mahajan, but how would you justify the presence of the UP C.M. at Mr. Bill Gates' meeting, when UP is one of the BIMARU states ! Shouldn't basic necesities take precedence over vain attempts at 'IT'isation ?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1303 IST)
ashok: One IIT which is in collaboration with the world famous MIT, Boston, is in Kanpur, and Kanpur, incidentally, in Uttar Pradesh!
eeshan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1302 IST)
dear mahajan
mr. lodha told that pm is going directly to n delhi and not via rajbhavan?
why
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1304 IST)
eeshan: One wants to go to Raj, not Raj Bhavan!
PM ka Chela (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1301 IST)
I believe you refused permission to P V Narasimha Rao when he expressed a desire to meet Vajpayeeji at the hospital. Why did you do so? because the court convicted him?
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1307 IST)
PM ka chela: PVN has not asked for any appointment with the prime minister. So there is no question of refusing it. PVN has already sent his best wishes for the speedy recovery of the PM, which has been duly acknowledged.
Mr Pramod Mahajan (Mon Oct 16 2000, 1313 IST)
Everyone: Thank you for your questions on The Rediff Chat. I would like to once more state that the PM is recovering fast and hopefully he will be out of the hospital within a week's time and celebrate Diwali at his official residence.
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