by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Interview of the Week with Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Law & IT Minister
Law is taking its genuine course in probes against the corrupt
We can’t look the other way in corruption cases
India is free from cyber attacks, our systems are in place
Digital payment charges are being looked into
By Harish Gupta
Lokmat: Where do you stand on Triple Talaq now that the SC has heard it ?
R S Prasad: I will not make any comment now that the SC has completed hearing on its validity. But we have stated our views very clearly. Its not an issue related to any religion or community. It relates to gender justice, gender dignity, gender equality. After nearly 70 years of India`s Independence, the issue of right to live with dignity has been raised by a big segment of country. Our view is clear; It is unconstitutional and must go.
Lokmat: What is the alternate machination if the SC strikes it down?
R S Prasad: We will have to decide after the court judgment.
Lokmat: It is said that you may come out with Muslim Marriage Act?
R S Prasad: All these things are going on. I do not wish to make any comment. But surely the government is open to have a fair mechanism if it is needed.
Lokmat: But you have doing this lip service. Your party has done nothing for Muslims in terms of giving them tickets or positions of eminence ?
R S Prasad: This concern for dignity of women is not for Muslims. What is BETI BACHALO BETI PADHAO, What is Sukanya Samridhi Yojna which I am handling as postal department minister. Why is out of almost 7 Crores transactions in MUDRA 2/3 are woman. Of the nearly 40 lakh IT employees nearly 1/3 are women.
Lokmat: I was talking about giving them political recognition by your party?
R S Prasad: May be you have a case that we ought to give them more tickets. But there I have differences and I am happy that you asked this question. But other parties symbolism ends by giving them tickets. The real issue is of denial of empowerment of the Muslim women. These parties maintain silence when it comes to their empowerment.
Lokmat: So you are empowering Muslim women?
R S Prasad: Obviously. Now their voice is heard. Rajiv Gandhi ultimately surrendered despite having a massive majority in the Shah Bano`s case. But the Muslim women in India have got a strong leader in Modi who stands by them in their pain and agony.
Lokmat: You are needling your political opponents one by one by using state agencies in every state and also at the Centre?
R S Prasad: Did we tell Lalu Prasad`s sons to have big land in Delhi and Patna ? Did we advise his daughter to have huge farm houses through means which are questionable?
Lokmat: You have lodged cases against Mayawati’s Brother, congress leaders in Karnataka, Himachal, Haryana and other states ?
R S Prasad: Has any one been chased without any evidence? If there is a case against a Karnataka Minister and crores of rupees are found, you want Income Tax dept to remain quite? If Mayawati’s brother`s issue is discovered by agencies, you mean to say they should look the other way.
Lokmat: So you are saying that your CBI, ED, DRI, IT are not going after the opposition parties.
R S Prasad: Your allegation is incorrect that’s what I can say.
Lokmat: All kinds of allegations and probes are being made against Arvind Kejriwal. But why have failed to chargesheet him?
R S Prasad: We do not interfere in the work of any of these agencies. The law is taking its genuine course without any pressure and without resorting to any manipulation.
Lokmat: You mean the whole lot of Opposition is corrupt?
R S Prasad: There are court rulings in cases where Income Tax is probing cases against high & mighty people, you know. Now they are forming grand alliance. Its nothing but the congregation of the corrupt.
Lokmat: You are selective in acting against political class.In Maharashtra you bitterly campaigned against corruption of NCP leaders like Ajit Pawar. But did nothing against him ?
R S Prasad: I do not have the facts of the case presently. But the legal process is on against all of them.
Lokmat: Cyber security is one of the biggest issues and you are handling it……..
R S Prasad: Digital India is changing the face of India now. Two Crore people are on BHIM app for digital payments and more than 20 crore transactions have taken place by linking 27 crore Jan Dhan account with mobile and AADHAR. We have saved more than Rs 50000 crores by directly transferring the monies into their accounts eliminating the middlemen.
Lokmat: But why the banks are still charging higher for digital payments? It’s a great concern?
R S Prasad: There is no charge on BHIM app. The AADHAR PAY which the PM had launched, there is no charge. For other UPI apps, the cost is zero.
Lokmat: But banks are charging more for digital payments while cash is free of charge?
R S Prasad: Its very low and we are already looking into this issue.
Lokmat: And what about the cyber attacks & security?
R S Prasad: India, fortunately, is free today except a few isolated incidents in AP and in Kerala.
Lokmat: May be India was not targeted by hackers?
R S Prasad: No, not at all. From March-April we have taken enough steps to make our systems secure because we were planning to go digital in a big way.
Lokmat: You mean to say that you had advance information about these attacks?
R S Prasad: All I can say is that we took steps to tighten digital and cyber security systems. We installed PACT system. We advised all the banks and govt. departments to put strong systems in place.
Lokmat: Controversies with regard to Aadhaar refuse to die down. P Chidambram says it was conceived for Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme and was optional?
R S Prasad: The problem of Chidambram is that he is yet to reconcile that he is no more in power. We are doing what they didn’t have the courage to do. We laid Optical fiber network for 2.5 lakh gram panchayats today while they connected less than 100 villages. We are not making it mandatory.... section 7 says no one shall be denied the right of benefit but you must alternatively come on the AADHAAR system. Who is unhappy? The Poor ? Some people are unhappy because there are no middlemen. I am surprised at Chidambaram’ statements.
Lokmat: So the sinking feeling that Chidambram is having and expressing through his articles is only for him and his party?
R S Prasad: It is completely personal….. why it is so… I will not go into those details. The whole country knows why he is having this sinking feeling. For the Congress, in-spite of getting 44 seats... in-spite of reduced to single digit in UP... in-spite of a washout in one election after the other, the party is unwilling to learn lessons. It is seeking space in only editorial pages.... good luck to them.
