As Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar prepares to bid farewell to the Rajya Sabha, where he served for two consecutive terms since 2006, he looks back at his journey from being a successful tech entrepreneur to a prominent politician. In an exclusive interview with ET Now, he shares his insights on various issues, such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, fake news, free speech, and Karnataka politics.
Mr Chandrasekhar, who is the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, is known for his advocacy against the 2G spectrum scam, which exposed the massive corruption in the allocation of telecom licenses and spectrum by the UPA government. He also played a key role in promoting laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act (UAPA), which gave more powers to the central government to designate individuals as terrorists and seize their properties. He has also been a vocal champion of causes like net neutrality, which ensures equal and non-discriminatory access to the internet for all users, and veterans’ rights, which seeks to improve the welfare and dignity of retired armed forces personnel.
Mr Chandrasekhar, who is also the founder of Jupiter Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in technology, media, and infrastructure sectors, said that India’s digital economy is on track to contribute 20 per cent of the GDP by 2026 and help the country reach the goal of a $5-trillion economy. He said that the targets and ambitions set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he launched the ‘Digital India’ programme in 2015 have transformed “qualitatively as well as quantitatively our economy, our innovation ecosystem and our position as a nation in the world”.
He also said that artificial intelligence (AI) will cause disruption and transformation in various sectors and industries, and that India needs to be prepared for the challenges and opportunities that it will bring. He said that the government is working on creating a robust regulatory framework for AI that will balance innovation and ethics, and that will ensure that the benefits of AI are shared by all sections of society.
On the issue of fake news and misinformation, Mr Chandrasekhar said that the government is committed to protecting the freedom of speech and expression of the citizens, but also expects the social media platforms and intermediaries to be accountable for the safety and trust of their users. He said that the government has issued new guidelines for the intermediaries, which require them to follow due diligence, appoint grievance officers, and comply with the orders of the authorities. He also said that the government is open to dialogue and consultation with the stakeholders, and that it respects the judicial process and the rule of law.
Mr Chandrasekhar, who hails from Karnataka, also spoke about the political situation in his home state, where the BJP government led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is facing several challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the farmers’ agitation, the border dispute with Maharashtra, and the internal rifts within the party. He said that the BJP government is working hard to deliver good governance and development to the people of Karnataka, and that it has the full support and guidance of the central leadership. He also said that he is confident that the BJP will win the next assembly elections in 2025, and that he will continue to serve the people of Karnataka in whatever capacity the party assigns him.
Mr Chandrasekhar, who will complete his Rajya Sabha tenure on April 2, 2024, said that he is grateful for the opportunity to represent the people of Karnataka in the upper house of the parliament, and that he has tried his best to raise their issues and concerns. He also said that he is proud of his achievements as a parliamentarian, such as introducing several private member bills, participating in various debates and discussions, and contributing to various parliamentary committees. He said that he will miss the Rajya Sabha, but he will also look forward to new challenges and opportunities in his political career.
