New Delhi:

India’s decision to allocate satellite spectrum, rather than auction it, will give consumers more choice, the telecoms minister said on Monday, playing down concern by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio that it could lose out to Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Starlink has long wanted to launch in India and has in recent months clashed with billionaire Ambani’s company over how the country should grant spectrum for satellite services.

Reliance had urged an auction but the Indian government sided with Musk who wanted it to be allocated administratively, in line with global trends. Analysts say an auction, requiring much more investment, would likely deter foreign rivals.

Ambani said he wanted a level playing field and has been worried that his telecom company, which spent $19 billion in airwave auctions, now risks losing broadband customers to Starlink and potentially even data and voice clients later as technology advances.

“My job as telecoms minister is to make sure that you have as many choices as possible,” Jyotiraditya Scindia told Reuters during an interview at his ministry’s office in New Delhi.

Asked if there was merit in Reliance’s concerns, he said, without naming any company: “Technology is never constant”, adding that companies need to keep evolving.

Scindia noted that current satellite technology for communications requires devices to have the sky in their sight, and smartphones cannot use that technology for indoor services that are provided by terrestrial networks.

“The minute you come into this building, you’re done,” he said.

India is one of the world’s biggest telecom markets with 942 million users and stiff competition among Reliance and rivals Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. Data prices are among the cheapest in the world and internet connectivity has risen rapidly.

Deloitte predicts India’s satellite broadband service market will be worth $1.9 billion by 2030, making it lucrative for players like Starlink, Amazon and Ambani.

Scindia said Starlink and Amazon Kuiper’s applications for a licence to launch satellite broadband services in the country were still under review.

VODAFONE IDEA

Musk has a reputation for disrupting markets. In Kenya, he priced Starlink at $10 per month, versus $120 in the United States, prompting a complaint by Kenya’s Safaricom last year.

A former aviation minister, Scindia is also overseeing many more telecom initiatives for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India’s government owns a stake in Vodafone Idea, and the company in November disclosed it still had around $24 billion in dues owed to the government.

Scindia repeatedly declined to answer in the interview if there were any plans for relief on the outstanding dues.

The Indian government is, however, working towards reviving state-run telecom player, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), which lost market share amid fierce competition over the years, he said.

BSNL has 99 million users but is being supported with expanded offerings of 4G services.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday said a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) will be opened in each of the country’s 543 parliamentary constituencies.

Scindia made the announcement while inaugurating a Passport Seva Kendra in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna, the parliamentary constituency he represents.

The Union minister also said that six new passport centres will be opened in MP this year.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to establish a Passport Seva Kendra in each parliamentary constituency with the aim of expanding services. The Department of Posts, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, is committed to making this resolution a reality,” he said.

The minister also informed that 6,000 post offices have been opened across the country.

“We should try to revive the tradition of writing letters by hand in the country because it expresses the true feelings of the heart,” he said.

The minister said that several technological changes have taken place in the services of the post offices.

He said that the people of Guna had to go to Bhopal and Gwalior to get their passports made but the Passport Seva Kendra will resolve their problems. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh attacked the Centre over its decision to assign spectrum for satellite-based communications administratively, drawing a sharp retort from Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

In a post on X, Mr Ramesh on Monday shared a question asked by his party colleague Viriato Fernandes in the Lok Sabha as to whether the government’s decision to allocate satellite spectrum through administrative means rather than auctioning it is meant to facilitate the entry of billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink into the Indian market. Mr Musk had criticized the auction route and praised the government’s decision to allocate the spectrum administratively.

In his written reply, Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said, “No Sir. The Telecommunications Act, 2023 provides for the assignment of spectrum through the administrative process for satellite-based services, listed in First Schedule of the Act.” 

“The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) grants authorisations under Unified License (UL) for providing Satellite-based commercial communication services. Satellite-based communication licenses are granted to any applicant, subject to acceptance and in compliance of the applicable licensing terms and conditions, including security conditions of India,” he said.

Spectrum assigned administratively are also chargeable and hence contribute to revenue, Mr Sekhar said.

Sharing a picture of Mr Sekhar’s written answer, Mr Ramesh said that a parliamentary question has confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has decided to assign spectrum for satellite-based communications administratively, without auctions, despite demands from many sections.

A parliamentary question has confirmed that the Modi government has decided to assign spectrum for satellite-based communications administratively, without auctions, despite demands from many sections. The government has stated on the record that “spectrum assigned… pic.twitter.com/CR8bCLEAPv

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 16, 2024

The government has stated on record that “spectrum assigned administratively are also chargeable and hence contribute to revenue”, a position contrary to what PM Modi has been loudly proclaiming for many years, the Congress lawmaker said.

“Recall that the BJP reaped huge political dividends from the media frenzy generated by its proxies in the government over the UPA’s allocation of 2G spectrum by administrative processes rather than auctions. Fraudulent revenue loss projections and an overactive judiciary ended up doing huge damage to the investment environment in telecoms,” he charged.

Jyotiraditya Scindia’s Response To Jairam Ramesh

Responding to Jairam Ramesh’s post, Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is the Minister for Communications, said the satellite spectrum cannot be auctioned due to “technical and operational” reasons.

No country in the world currently auctions satellite spectrum, he said.

“Well done Jairam Ramesh for coherently chronicling the abominable 2G scam, and spelling out how the Congress ended up digging its own grave then. The country cannot forget this blot on India’s history; a scam that not just led to a colossal loss of Rs 1,76,645 crore to the exchequer, but also gave government-corporate collaboration its worst name, a.k.a crony capitalism,” he wrote.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also told Mr Ramesh that it was “rather ironical and ignorant” of him to point fingers at the Modi government in this regard.

“In the UPA era, spectrum was allocated via the opaque FCFS (first come, first served) policy, resulting in scams and losses. The Modi government PRIORITISES TRANSPARENCY & PUBLIC INTEREST- mobile telephony spectrum is now auctioned,” he said.

Well done @Jairam_Ramesh for coherently chronicling the abominable 2G scam, and spelling out how the Congress ended up digging its own grave then.

The country cannot forget this blot on India’s history; a scam that not just led to a colossal loss of Rs. 1,76,645 Crore to the… https://t.co/47fdngxNBApic.twitter.com/68HNJpBBDU

— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) December 17, 2024

“Satellite spectrum cannot be auctioned due to technical and operational reasons as I recently explained at a public forum. This distinction is also codified in Schedule 1 of the new Telecommunications Act 2023. Had you read the Act and participated more actively in the proceedings of the Parliament, you’d know better than to draw such absurd conclusions,” Mr Scindia said.

He stated the satellite spectrum in the Ku band (around 14 GHz) and Ka band (27.1 to 31 GHz) is inherently shareable in nature and therefore it is neither desirable nor feasible to allocate it through auction. 

Given that satellite spectrum is highly under-utilised, failing to assign it would result in two key disadvantages: potential loss of government revenue, and missed opportunities to advance technologically, which could help bridge the digital divide, the Minister said.

“Whereas the BJP under PM Modi has always sought to maximise governance, the Congress has a track record of maximising its own pockets at the expense of public interest. To top it off, it is the Congress that mastered the art of “manufacturing consent” to further its own agenda, and protect its own interests,” he said.

Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sukanta Majumdar surprised attendees with a stylish ramp walk at the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav fashion show on Saturday. Held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, the event celebrated the vibrant cultural heritage of Northeast India. Both ministers had on traditional northeastern jackets, putting the spotlight on the region’s rich fashion and textile traditions.

Mr Scindia, who oversees the Ministry for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, lauded the event as a tribute to the “culture and creativity” of the Northeast. Sharing the experience on X, he wrote, “Truly a celebration of culture and creativity! Had an amazing time at the fashion show showcasing the vibrant styles of Northeast India! Each state was beautifully represented by talented artists and models. Honoured to be part of the event with my colleague Sh [Sukanta Majumdare] Ji.”

Truly a celebration of culture and creativity!

Had an amazing time at the fashion show showcasing the vibrant styles of Northeast India! Each state was beautifully represented by talented artists and models. Honoured to be part of the event with my colleague Sh @DrSukantaBJP… pic.twitter.com/eyj39NSvTm

— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) December 7, 2024

The Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 6, highlights the cultural and economic potential of the eight northeastern states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim. Collectively known as the ‘Ashtalakshmi’, these states symbolise prosperity in its many forms.

The three-day festival (December 6-8) offered a platform to showcase the region’s artisanal crafts, vibrant textile industry, and unique Geographical Indication (GI) products. Activities included artisan exhibitions, grameen haats (rural markets), state-specific pavilions, and technical sessions addressing the region’s developmental priorities.

PM Modi, while inaugurating the event, underlined the government’s commitment to integrating the Northeast into India’s growth narrative. “In the last decade, we have seen a wonderful journey of development in the Northeast,” he said, as per The Telegraph.

Cities like Guwahati, Shillong, Imphal, and Aizawl are set to become new beacons of growth, like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru, he added.

Focusing on the region’s untapped potential, PM Modi also said that the Northeast, with its vibrant culture and dynamic people, holds immense promise to propel India’s growth in the coming years.

New Delhi:

India’s internet and telecom sector is likely to get a new entrant – Elon Musk’s Starlink – a game-changer for internet users in the world’s most populous country. Elon Musk will be taking on behemoths like Mukesh Ambani’s Jio and Sunil Bharti Mittal’s Airtel besides national carrier BSNL to provide ultra-high speed connectivity to Indian users.

Whether or not he will be able to match Jio and Airtel on pricing is yet to be seen. India currently has the world’s lowest pricing in terms of broadband and WiFi internet. Elon Musk, currently the world’s richest person, may aim to compete aggressively in the world’s most vibrant internet data market.

Starlink, which provides wireless internet service with the help satellite constellations in near-Earth orbit, is currently seeking the required security clearances for a licence to offer satellite broadband services in India and is expected to get a permit should it satisfy authorities of the conditions laid out, the telecom minister said today.

Starlink has been looking to enter India for years and its plans got a major boost last month when New Delhi said it wouldn’t auction spectrum for satellite broadband but rather award it administratively – just as Elon Musk wanted. Rival Indian telecom billionaire Mukesh Ambani had wanted an auction.

India’s Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed today that Starlink is in the process of obtaining the necessary security clearance, which requires it to satisfy the Government of India that the company processes and stores all data locally in India, and that its satellite signals are encrypted and 100 per cent secure.

“When you check all the boxes, you get the licence. If they (Starlink) do that, we will be very happy,” Mr Scindia said.

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio currently dominates India’s broadband market with more than 14 million wired subscribers. Jio also has a user base of nearly 500 million mobile internet users. Airtel too has close to 300 million broadband subscribers. However, they are concerned that after spending more than 20 billion dollars in spectrum auctions, they now have the risk of losing customers to Elon Musk’s Starlink as satellite technology advances.

As per a Reuters report, Reliance Jio already has the necessary clearances to launch its own satellite broadband service, but hasn’t done so yet. Starlink has now informed the Government of India that it is willing to comply with India’s rules and regulations for security, data storage, and servers.

When Reliance Jio had first launched services, Mukesh Ambani, then Asia’s richest person, had offered broadband services for free to all subscribers to capture a majority market share. Elon Musk, who is the world’s richest person is now adopting a similar strategy – In Africa, Musk offers Starlink services for as little as $10 (roughly Rs 800) per month. In the US, Musk offers the same Starlink service for as much as $120 (roughly Rs 10,000) per month.
 

Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Elon Musk-owned Starlink will have to comply with all norms to get licence for services in India, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

Also Read: Musk reacts to Ambani lobbying, calls any India move to auction satellite spectrum ‘unprecedented’

The Minister said the satellite internet services provider is in process of completing all the requirements and they will get licence once they complete the process.

“They (Starlink) have to comply with all rules to get the licence. You have to look at it from security perspective as well. They are in process of doing it. Once all requirements are met they will get the licence,” Mr. Scindia added.

At present, the government has issued a licence to Bharti Group-backed OneWeb and Jio-SES joint venture, Jio Satellite Communications.

New Delhi:

The Congress party has lost its moorings because of leadership’s disconnect with the public and the vision for India, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, adding the opposition party is in a very steady state of decline.

Mr Scindia, who quit the Congress in 2020 to join the BJP, said his former party has lost its connection in terms of leadership.

“I think the Congress Party has lost its moorings. There’s no debate about that, it has lost its moorings,” he said in a text and video interview with PTI.

He was asked if the Congress party had lost the momentum after better-than-expected performance in the April-May general elections.

“To be very candid with you, I have no assessment of the Congress party. I believe that the Congress Party is in a very steady state of decline, and I think that’s because of three things. I think the Congress Party has lost its connection in terms of leadership.

“It has lost its connection in terms of the public, and I believe that the Congress Party has also lost its connection to a vision of India. And when you lose all those three attributes, then you’ve lost the trust of the people of India, and that’s the state of the Congress Party today,” Mr Scindia said.

He however did not make a direct comment on Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying he cannot “sit in judgment over any single individual”.

“I think each one of us has to carve our destiny and our niche, and I think it’s important to be able to concentrate on the positivity of what you want to do in life, and I would like to do that in my life as well,” said Scindia, who is the Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region in the Modi government.

He went on to add that human resource assessment is one of the most important decision-making factors that decides the success of any entity.

“It (Congress) has lost its ability to separate qualities of leadership from those that do not necessarily have it,” he said. “Assessment of human resource is one of the most important decision-making factors in the success of any enterprise, be it a multinational corporation, be it a company in India, be it a political party. Because at the end of the day, it is not your bottom line or your net profit line that talks about what you’re able to do.”

When Mr Scindia quit the Congress in March 2020, it was said that he was pained by the party reneging on its promise to the people of Madhya Pradesh as per its manifesto, which made him face flak from youth and farmers. Also being snubbed for a leadership role in the state was cited as one of the reasons.

“It’s about the quality of people that you have that are part of your enterprise, that result in that bottom line, eventually,” he said in the interview.

He predicted a win for the BJP in Maharashtra assembly elections just like in the just concluded polls in Haryana.

“As far as Maharashtra is concerned, it is a state to which I’m extremely emotionally attached, because I originally come from that state, I’ve spent a lot of time in that state, and I’m very, very, very confident that the BJP, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, will certainly win its place among the hearts of the people once again, in this elections, the results of which both you and I will be sitting and discussing on the 23rd this month,” he said.

Mr Scindia entered into politics after he lost his father and nine-term Lok Sabha MP Madhavrao J Scindia in an aeroplane crash in 2001.

When asked about his political ambition, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Mr Scindia said that both his father and grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia, have taught him at a very early age that their goal should not be politics but it should be public service and politics should only be a medium to accomplish the goal.

“If you define it in that rubric, then it doesn’t matter where you’re sitting or where you’re not. What matters is, are you serving people? Are you working for their good? And if that is your passion, then that comes in any form. I have my grandmother in her life, my father in his life, and I in my life have never hankered after any post,” he said.

Before entry into politics, Mr Scindia, who is a Harvard Graduate and MBA alumnus of Stanford University, was working as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley.

Talking about his transition to politics, Mr Scindia said there is no comparison between his earlier life and public service.

“There is just no comparison. In the field of public service, if you can touch a single person’s life, the satisfaction that you get inside your soul, you cannot compare with any tangible material thing,” he said.

When asked if he would like his son Mahanaryaman Scindia to follow his legacy, Mr Scindia said that he does not believe he has the right to determine his child’s destiny.

“I believe your destiny is what you make of it. I do not believe that, because you are a parent, you have a right to determine what your child’s destiny is. Every human being has to do their karma (deeds) and has to have to define their path. We as parents can only do the things that we have been entrusted by God, which is to make sure that we instil good values in children. We make them compassionate, and empathetic. We educate them, and the rest is for them to define,” Scindia said.

The minister also said that he has been influenced by both his grandmother and father in different ways.

“They both have in different ways and my grandmother for her fierce determination and fierce resolve and belief in what she believed in and for that going to any end. I took some degree of inspiration from that when I made a very big move because she was faced with that same, to a certain degree of humiliation in her life under the DP (Dwarka Prasad) Mishra government.

“My father for just the human being that he was and his capability to touch people’s lives, and that’s not something that you can inculcate or develop. It has to be ingrained in you,” he said.

Mr Scindia said that politics has become much more comparative and demanding and “which he thinks is good, it’s good”.

“Having seen it from the 80s till today, for the last 23 years, to a certain degree the purpose that politics had, was not Rajneeti, but it was more Janseva. It’s become more of Rajniti now. I think to that end, the Prime Minister is setting a completely new trend of a paradigm shift of what it means to be a Janasevak, Pradhan Sevak and Pradhan Rakshak. And I think those are the values that we need to take our country back to even in politics,” he said.

The minister said politics mostly can be the art of the possible, but sometimes can also be the art of the impossible. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia addresses the gathering during the launch of the new BSNL Logo and seven new services, at BSNL Bhawan, Janpath, in New Delhi on October 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) on Tuesday (October 22, 2024) launched a slew of new offerings and initiatives, ranging from spam blockers to automated SIM kiosks and direct-to-device services, as the State-owned firm vowed to proactively woo subscribers and claw back market share.

Sporting a brand new logo, BSNL also introduced low latency 5G connectivity for mining operations in partnership with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), leveraging Made-in-India equipment and its technological expertise.

In all, 7 new services of the telco were launched by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Meanwhile, sources said that the telecom corporation is shifting to a higher gear to grab market share, with a game plan that includes the commercial launch of 4G services in the coming months.

The state-owned telco is also giving shape to asset monetisation plans, with an innovative multi-pronged approach that may include identifying land for ‘data warehousing’ and using the last leg as a Mobile Edge Computing, sources said.

The telecom firm, which currently trails private sector counterparts in market share, will come out by next week with a 5G NAAS tender for Delhi and Mumbai.

This will enable a 5G high-speed network on a hotspot basis, and it will offer true 5G. The financing model for BSNL will be based on ‘Network-as-a-service’.

The trials will be first for Delhi and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the initiatives unveiled by BSNL on Tuesday include spam-blocking solutions that automatically filter out phishing attempts and malicious SMS and aim to create a safer communication environment for its users.

Automated SIM kiosks allow users to purchase, upgrade, port or replace SIMs on a 24/7 basis, leveraging UPI or QR-enabled payments with seamless KYC integration and multi-lingual access.

India’s first direct-to-device connectivity solution converges satellite and terrestrial mobile networks to deliver “reliable connectivity”, a release said, adding that the technology is particularly useful in emergency situations and isolated regions. It can even enable UPI payments in such areas.

BSNL has also launched wifi roaming services for its Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) customers, enabling high-speed internet access at the telco’s hotspots at no extra charge – in its process of minimising data costs for users.

The telco also announced a fibre-based intranet TV service with 500-plus live channels and Pay TV through its FTTH network. This service would be accessible to all BSNL FTTH subscribers without additional charges. The data used for TV viewing would not be consuming the FTTH data pack.

“BSNL has been a flagship enterprise of the government, a flagship enterprise that represents aspirations, dreams and expectations of every single citizen of our country,” Mr. Scindia said while unveiling the new services and new logo of BSNL.

BSNL has been serving the interest of people achieving various milestones year after year, he said, exuding confidence that “as the landscape has become competitive and consolidated” BSNL “will rise to new challenges”.

The telco has come up with its own 4G telecom stack, which will soon migrate to even 5G, Mr. Scindia said, terming it a huge accomplishment for India.

“Our hope is that BSNL will always be at the forefront of tech innovation,” he said.

The minister said that BSNL will have 1,00,000 4G sites by mid-next year and graduate some of those sites to 5G by that timeline too.

“And in the last six months, since the beginning of the roll-out of 4G…we have not even completed the rollout of 4G yet….from 75 lakh subscribers in March 2024, we have now gone to 1.8 crore subscribers, almost 2.5 times in a matter of six months, whereas we have rolled out and fiberised only 38,000 towers out of one lakh towers,” the minister said, adding that the amount of data that has increased in 4G traffic is almost 7 fold in this period.

Robert Ravi, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, said the telco is not looking to increase tariffs in the near future.

BSNL is looking to fully focus on consumer experience, and gain subscriber confidence, Mr. Ravi said, adding that “we don’t see any need for tariff hikes in the near future”.

Guwahati:

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said on Saturday that 100 per cent coverage of villages in terms of telecom connectivity in the country is targeted in the next 12 months.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), said special funds have been sanctioned by the Cabinet for the purpose and he has himself been monitoring the progress of work every week.

Addressing a press conference, he said, “The Prime Minister is committed to 100 per cent saturation. We have identified around 24,000 villages in the country that still need saturation in terms of telecom connection.” A special scheme to reach all these villages has already been rolled out along with funds sanctioned for the purpose, he said.

Areas in the northeastern states are among these villages, and strategies are being worked out to reach these places, the minister said.

Provisions of the new telecom Act enable setting up required infrastructure and mixed technologies, like V-sat and satellite, are being utilised with the “target of cent per cent saturation within 12 months”, Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

“I have been monitoring the work on a weekly basis, and 13,000-14,000 of these villages have also been covered,” he added.

Jyotiraditya Scindia also spoke about the allocations for northeastern states in the 2024-25 Union Budget.

“For the past 75 years, North East was treated as an orphan. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to make the region the engine of growth,” he claimed.

Special funds of about Rs 11,000 crore have been earmarked for flood management in Assam and Sikkim, and 100 new branches of India Post Payments Bank will come up in the region as per provisions of the budget.

Jyotiraditya Scindia maintained that the region will benefit from the different schemes for women, farmers, youth and economically weaker sections as provided in the budget.

He asserted that the importance given to the region can be gauged from increased monetary allocation to the DoNER ministry, more funds coming through the devolution of central taxes and investment in developing connectivity infrastructure.

The minister maintained that major industrial projects would soon enter the region with the proper infrastructure in place.

Jyotiraditya Scindia cited the example of the Rs 27,000-crore semi-conductor unit to be set up by the Tata Group near Guwahati and termed it as a ‘game changer’ for the entire North East.

“It is a holistic budget, which will set in a new era for the entire country,” the Union minister added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Guna:

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday targeted Congress over the imposition of Emergency 49 years ago and claimed the voice of 80 crore people was stifled to save the chair of select people.

Speaking to reporters in Guna on the 49th anniversary of the Emergency, Mr Scindia said June 25 is remembered as a “black day” in the history of the country.

“Today is remembered as a black day as those elements had throttled the voice of 80 crore people to save their chair,” said Mr Scindia, a career Congress politician who quit the party in March 2020 and joined the BJP.

On the maiden visit to Guna after winning the recent Lok Sabha election on the BJP ticket, Mr Scindia said the electoral outcome has further strengthened democracy and the Constitution is being protected.

“The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) worships this ‘granth’” (Constitution),” he said.

Asked about his new responsibilities as the Minister for Communication and Development of the North Eastern Region, Mr Scindia said he would work with the same enthusiasm when he had handled the Civil Aviation portfolio.

He asked the Opposition to digest their electoral defeat instead of criticising the Central government.

“They should play the role of the opposition. But if you are unable to digest your defeat, then you will keep looking at power and remain in the opposition forever,” he said.

Mr Scindia attributed the BJP’s sweeping victory in all 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s widespread popularity.

“PM Modi lives in the hearts of the people and vice-versa,” he said.

While he characterised the “Abki baar 400 paar” slogan as purely electoral, Mr Scindia noted that the “historic verdict” has cemented Modi’s position as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term.

“The victory of the BJP has three pillars: youth, women, and farmers,” he added.

Queried about fertiliser shortages, Mr Scindia assured that farmers would not face any difficulties.

“I have already sent two racks of manure this month and the third one will reach here by June 30th,” he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)