Disappointing IIM Chat with Rahul Gandhi in Singapore
A good moderator should perhaps set the stage for the subject to express freely. The probing should be such that the discussion is factually correct, keep things engaging and not take sides. Doing this journalist task is tough and Ravi Thakran, the moderator of yesterday's IIM chat with Rahul Gandhi found this to his chagrin.
We didn’t make the best use of an opportunity to test the credibility of a potential alternative to the present dispensation in India. The most glaring part was that the audience had asked a tonne of very pointed and well rounded questions and addressing them may have given us a better idea of how suited the Congress President is to lead the country and his party.
All that couldn't happen because the moderator's tablet got locked out and he didn’t have access to the questions that were being posed by the audience. The net result was that people came out of the session with their existing beliefs about Rahul Gandhi quite intact.
As a postscript Ravi Thakran graciously acknowledged the goof-up and has promised to do something about it. His response surely won an admirer in me and the eternal optimist in me is hopeful that something good will come out of it. Having said that below are the questions that were intended for Rahul Gandhi.
These questions are in their original form without amendments and they have been grouped together based on similarity and sorted on the basis of the number of votes garnered.
1. @Niranjan - 100 votes: What is your view on transparency of political funding and the recent law allowing secret donations through electoral bonds? Will you repeal the recent amendments to the FCRA?
● @Anonymous: instead: would you allow audit of all political funding by CAG?
2. @Shalini Sharma - 93 votes: Mr Gandhi, do you think work experience is a pre-requisite for a job? What’s your pitch for your prime ministerial candidacy?
● @Mahesh - 13 votes: Do you want to be the PM of India?
● @Nirag - 48 Votes: What quality of yours aspires you to become PM of India
● @Manish - 8 votes: Mr Gandhi, since u hv bn extremely critical of Mr Modi, it is safe to assume that if u become PM, u wouldn’t like to be benchmarked to him. So, which living world leader wd u like to be b’marked to?
● @Himanshu Verma - 3 votes: What is your process of staying up to date with regards to the knowledge required to run a large political party like the Congress? And in future if you get favorable elections results, the country?
● @Arvind Swaminathan - 2 votes: Hi Rahul, Do you think it is important to be a good orator to be a leader in the public domain? Or is it over rated and it all comes down to what can the leader do in influencing his team internally?
3. @Anonymous - 90 votes: Considering the mass exclusions due to and security issues with Aadhaar, do you now think it has turned out to be a Frankenstein's monster and that it was a mistake to introduce it in the first place?
● @Anonymous - 49 votes: Considering you oppose Aadhaar imposition by the Centre, how do you justify the Karnataka Government cabinet decision to make Aadhaar mandatory for all government services in the state?
4. @Anonymous - 88 votes: Is there a proper plan to develop broader, high quality leadership of the Congress Party and rid it of its deep dependence on the Gandhi family and dynastic politics?
● @Anand - 21 votes: You have been very vocal about promoting inner party democracy within congress. Now as the president, how do you plan to go about implementing it.
5. @Anonymous - 65 votes: How do you plan to combat the extensive election machinery of the BJP? Are there any thoughts to mobilising the grassroot workers of Congress? What are the changes you are making compared to 2014?
● @Anonymous - 6 votes: The fact that Congress election policies are not working (25 elections lost under Rahul Gandhi's leadership), any chance there will be change in strategy for Karnataka elections? If so, what?
6. @MP Singh - 60 votes: What's your self-appraisal on failure of Congress today: A) Poor organization led by a Great Leader? B) Great Organization led by a poor Leader? C) Poor organization led by a poor Leader? Be Honest
● @Mahesh - 3 votes: Can you do a hard reset for the Congress party?Do away with likes of the "old guard" who are inhibiting a new map
7. @Anonymous - 28 votes: If you are mandated to return to power in 2019, what steps would you take to prevent a repeat of the scam raj that choked your government from 2012 to 2014?
● @Anonymous - 11 votes: In the last 5 years of Congress rule we saw a lot if scams. How will congress be different if it gets elected? What are the changes we can see in the candidates it will field in the next election?
● @M P Singh - 18 votes: Congress has failed to live up to Indian People expectations, with huge amount of corruption being ingrained in system due corrupt governance. What changes have you brought to Congress to stem this?
● @Anonymous - 4 votes: What are your plans to decrease corruption in India over time?
● @Nirag - 4 votes: What are the steps are u taking to clear congress image from corruption
8. @Aarti Mehra - 26 votes: India has 17% of world population but incommesurate influence on issues that impact us. What’s your vision for India’s place in the world and how would you achieve it vis a vis neighbours & big powers
● @Aarti Mehra - 1 vote: India has 17% of world population but incommensurate influence on global issues that impact us.What is your vision for India among nations? How to achieve it vis a vis our neighbours and world powers?
9. @Anonymous - 22 votes: Is it enough for the Congress to position itself just as the Anti-BJP/RSS or Anti-Modi Party? Are there leaders in Congress who want to set out an independent vision for the Congress?
● @Anonymous - 17 votes: If you should become the ruling party in the next elections , what would be the top 3 items of priority you would focus on.
● @Anand - 10 votes: What are the top three business focussed items you would address within year, if Congress comes to power in 2019
● @Shekar - 3 votes: What are your significant plans to make real changes in India ??
● @Koti Reddy - 3 votes: Rahul Ji, If you become Prime Minister this time what difference you are going to showcase in terms of encouraging young entrepreneurs and Overall India growth With realistic numbers
● @Sanjeev Jha - 3 votes: What is your position on lack of access to capital for entrepreneurship to large sections of society since capital is tied up in a parallel economy with specific groups (historically based on castes)
● @Sekhar - 2 votes: What are your Significant plans to make real changes in India ?
● @Aarti Mehra - 3 votes: How do you envision Digital technology helping India to leapfrog its social and economic development?
● @Anonymous - 2 votes: The biggest challenge for India over the next century is going to be finding meaningful employment opportunities for the youth. Can you point to 2-3 plans you would propose as the next PM
10. @Mahesh - 14 Votes: Why cant you support ending of reservation in India after 70 years of Independence?Also why are you against amending constitution and article 370
● @Lakshminarayana - 3 votes: Is there a plan for congress party to transform the current reservation policy which is caste based to a Need based one. If so can a permanent commission be set up for the same to overhaul the system?
11. @Anonymous - 14 votes: What is the expectation from your Singapore visit?
● @Anand - 9 votes: Did you meet with PM Lee or any of his colleagues in your visit this time? What were the key points of discussion ?
12. @Shantanu Saxena - 12 votes: What are your views on allowing NRI's to vote and participate in India' elections process while staying abroad.
13. @Pradeep Sunkara - 11 votes: According to report from UNICEF which sourced from MHFW Govt of India, estimated around 38% of kids in INDIA still suffering from malnutrition. What you think went wrong in last 70 years to reduce it
14. @Anand - 10 votes: Bank NPAs- both known and unknown seem to be bigger than the GDP itself. What do you think should be done to address this
15. @Anand - 9 votes: As opposition you have rightly talked a lot about problems with BJP govt, but they won the last election, so going into next election what is that you will do different from UPA-II to win back voters
16. @Somnath Dasgupta - 7 votes: In 70+ years of Independence, what in your opinion has been our biggest achievement as a nation? And whats our biggest failure? And how will this influence your priorities if you were to become PM?
17. @Anonymous - 5 votes: What are your plans to increase average levels of education in India?
18. @Anonymous - 4 votes: In what ways (apart from funding) do you see NRIs contributing to India? Is there room for us to return to India and play an active role in administration, while surviving the political elements?
19. @Prashanth - 4 votes: What is your plan to bring India forward and your ideas welcome NRIs to back to India. How will you control talent/brain drain in India.
● @Sanjeev Jha - 3 votes: It is hard for individual NRIs to invest in financial markets / venture capital since taking it out is filled with administrative minutiae choking inflow given exit barriers - could we address this?
20. @A Congress Supporter - 3 votes: I wish Rahul Gandhi to use a twitter ID with his own name and not like Office of RG, Any chances to get this happen?
21. @Anonymous - 2 votes: What’s your view on GST? We know the implementation could have been better but do you think it’s good for the country or not?
22. @Anonymous - 2 votes: Any thoughts on privatisation of PSU banks
23. @Anonymous - 2 votes: How will you address the youth unemployment situation
● @Anonymous - 2 votes: Understand you want to represent the youth of the country. What would be your advice to the youth in terms of following their passion, rather than following the bandwagon or family occupation?
24. @Anonymous - 2 votes: India has grown in the last few years but still remains less developed than some Asian countries. How do you plan to bridge that gap?
25. @Bhupesh Gandhi (not your cousin :) ) - 2 votes: Can you Support the Party in Power on matters of National Interest and presnt a radically different flavour of Opposition? Your workers could work at grassroot level to help common man.
● @Anonymous - 0 votes: What are your views on coalition governments? Would you be willing to lead a coalition government even if it comes at the risk of policy paralysis and is detrimental to the interests of the country?
These questions are in their original form without amendments and they have been grouped together based on similarity and sorted on the basis of the number of votes garnered.
1. @Niranjan - 100 votes: What is your view on transparency of political funding and the recent law allowing secret donations through electoral bonds? Will you repeal the recent amendments to the FCRA?
● @Anonymous: instead: would you allow audit of all political funding by CAG?
2. @Shalini Sharma - 93 votes: Mr Gandhi, do you think work experience is a pre-requisite for a job? What’s your pitch for your prime ministerial candidacy?
● @Mahesh - 13 votes: Do you want to be the PM of India?
● @Nirag - 48 Votes: What quality of yours aspires you to become PM of India
● @Manish - 8 votes: Mr Gandhi, since u hv bn extremely critical of Mr Modi, it is safe to assume that if u become PM, u wouldn’t like to be benchmarked to him. So, which living world leader wd u like to be b’marked to?
● @Himanshu Verma - 3 votes: What is your process of staying up to date with regards to the knowledge required to run a large political party like the Congress? And in future if you get favorable elections results, the country?
● @Arvind Swaminathan - 2 votes: Hi Rahul, Do you think it is important to be a good orator to be a leader in the public domain? Or is it over rated and it all comes down to what can the leader do in influencing his team internally?
3. @Anonymous - 90 votes: Considering the mass exclusions due to and security issues with Aadhaar, do you now think it has turned out to be a Frankenstein's monster and that it was a mistake to introduce it in the first place?
● @Anonymous - 49 votes: Considering you oppose Aadhaar imposition by the Centre, how do you justify the Karnataka Government cabinet decision to make Aadhaar mandatory for all government services in the state?
4. @Anonymous - 88 votes: Is there a proper plan to develop broader, high quality leadership of the Congress Party and rid it of its deep dependence on the Gandhi family and dynastic politics?
● @Anand - 21 votes: You have been very vocal about promoting inner party democracy within congress. Now as the president, how do you plan to go about implementing it.
5. @Anonymous - 65 votes: How do you plan to combat the extensive election machinery of the BJP? Are there any thoughts to mobilising the grassroot workers of Congress? What are the changes you are making compared to 2014?
● @Anonymous - 6 votes: The fact that Congress election policies are not working (25 elections lost under Rahul Gandhi's leadership), any chance there will be change in strategy for Karnataka elections? If so, what?
6. @MP Singh - 60 votes: What's your self-appraisal on failure of Congress today: A) Poor organization led by a Great Leader? B) Great Organization led by a poor Leader? C) Poor organization led by a poor Leader? Be Honest
● @Mahesh - 3 votes: Can you do a hard reset for the Congress party?Do away with likes of the "old guard" who are inhibiting a new map
7. @Anonymous - 28 votes: If you are mandated to return to power in 2019, what steps would you take to prevent a repeat of the scam raj that choked your government from 2012 to 2014?
● @Anonymous - 11 votes: In the last 5 years of Congress rule we saw a lot if scams. How will congress be different if it gets elected? What are the changes we can see in the candidates it will field in the next election?
● @M P Singh - 18 votes: Congress has failed to live up to Indian People expectations, with huge amount of corruption being ingrained in system due corrupt governance. What changes have you brought to Congress to stem this?
● @Anonymous - 4 votes: What are your plans to decrease corruption in India over time?
● @Nirag - 4 votes: What are the steps are u taking to clear congress image from corruption
8. @Aarti Mehra - 26 votes: India has 17% of world population but incommesurate influence on issues that impact us. What’s your vision for India’s place in the world and how would you achieve it vis a vis neighbours & big powers
● @Aarti Mehra - 1 vote: India has 17% of world population but incommensurate influence on global issues that impact us.What is your vision for India among nations? How to achieve it vis a vis our neighbours and world powers?
9. @Anonymous - 22 votes: Is it enough for the Congress to position itself just as the Anti-BJP/RSS or Anti-Modi Party? Are there leaders in Congress who want to set out an independent vision for the Congress?
● @Anonymous - 17 votes: If you should become the ruling party in the next elections , what would be the top 3 items of priority you would focus on.
● @Anand - 10 votes: What are the top three business focussed items you would address within year, if Congress comes to power in 2019
● @Shekar - 3 votes: What are your significant plans to make real changes in India ??
● @Koti Reddy - 3 votes: Rahul Ji, If you become Prime Minister this time what difference you are going to showcase in terms of encouraging young entrepreneurs and Overall India growth With realistic numbers
● @Sanjeev Jha - 3 votes: What is your position on lack of access to capital for entrepreneurship to large sections of society since capital is tied up in a parallel economy with specific groups (historically based on castes)
● @Sekhar - 2 votes: What are your Significant plans to make real changes in India ?
● @Aarti Mehra - 3 votes: How do you envision Digital technology helping India to leapfrog its social and economic development?
● @Anonymous - 2 votes: The biggest challenge for India over the next century is going to be finding meaningful employment opportunities for the youth. Can you point to 2-3 plans you would propose as the next PM
10. @Mahesh - 14 Votes: Why cant you support ending of reservation in India after 70 years of Independence?Also why are you against amending constitution and article 370
● @Lakshminarayana - 3 votes: Is there a plan for congress party to transform the current reservation policy which is caste based to a Need based one. If so can a permanent commission be set up for the same to overhaul the system?
11. @Anonymous - 14 votes: What is the expectation from your Singapore visit?
● @Anand - 9 votes: Did you meet with PM Lee or any of his colleagues in your visit this time? What were the key points of discussion ?
12. @Shantanu Saxena - 12 votes: What are your views on allowing NRI's to vote and participate in India' elections process while staying abroad.
13. @Pradeep Sunkara - 11 votes: According to report from UNICEF which sourced from MHFW Govt of India, estimated around 38% of kids in INDIA still suffering from malnutrition. What you think went wrong in last 70 years to reduce it
14. @Anand - 10 votes: Bank NPAs- both known and unknown seem to be bigger than the GDP itself. What do you think should be done to address this
15. @Anand - 9 votes: As opposition you have rightly talked a lot about problems with BJP govt, but they won the last election, so going into next election what is that you will do different from UPA-II to win back voters
16. @Somnath Dasgupta - 7 votes: In 70+ years of Independence, what in your opinion has been our biggest achievement as a nation? And whats our biggest failure? And how will this influence your priorities if you were to become PM?
17. @Anonymous - 5 votes: What are your plans to increase average levels of education in India?
18. @Anonymous - 4 votes: In what ways (apart from funding) do you see NRIs contributing to India? Is there room for us to return to India and play an active role in administration, while surviving the political elements?
19. @Prashanth - 4 votes: What is your plan to bring India forward and your ideas welcome NRIs to back to India. How will you control talent/brain drain in India.
● @Sanjeev Jha - 3 votes: It is hard for individual NRIs to invest in financial markets / venture capital since taking it out is filled with administrative minutiae choking inflow given exit barriers - could we address this?
20. @A Congress Supporter - 3 votes: I wish Rahul Gandhi to use a twitter ID with his own name and not like Office of RG, Any chances to get this happen?
21. @Anonymous - 2 votes: What’s your view on GST? We know the implementation could have been better but do you think it’s good for the country or not?
22. @Anonymous - 2 votes: Any thoughts on privatisation of PSU banks
23. @Anonymous - 2 votes: How will you address the youth unemployment situation
● @Anonymous - 2 votes: Understand you want to represent the youth of the country. What would be your advice to the youth in terms of following their passion, rather than following the bandwagon or family occupation?
24. @Anonymous - 2 votes: India has grown in the last few years but still remains less developed than some Asian countries. How do you plan to bridge that gap?
25. @Bhupesh Gandhi (not your cousin :) ) - 2 votes: Can you Support the Party in Power on matters of National Interest and presnt a radically different flavour of Opposition? Your workers could work at grassroot level to help common man.
● @Anonymous - 0 votes: What are your views on coalition governments? Would you be willing to lead a coalition government even if it comes at the risk of policy paralysis and is detrimental to the interests of the country?
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