{"id":1514,"date":"2020-12-08T18:41:11","date_gmt":"2020-12-08T18:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=135586"},"modified":"2020-12-08T18:41:11","modified_gmt":"2020-12-08T18:41:11","slug":"too-much-democracy-niti-aayog-ceo-amitabh-kant-denies-what-he-stated-twice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2020\/12\/08\/too-much-democracy-niti-aayog-ceo-amitabh-kant-denies-what-he-stated-twice\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cToo much democracy\u201d: NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant denies what he stated twice"},"content":{"rendered":"
Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, found himself in the middle of a controversy when he was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying, \u201cToo much of democracy hampering reforms in India\u201d while speaking at a virtual event organised by Swarajya Magazine. Kant took to Twitter to deny saying these words. \u201cThis is definitely not what I said. I was speaking about MEIS scheme & resources being spread thin & need for creating global champions in manufacturing sector,\u201d he Kant.<\/p>\n
\nThis is definitely not what I said. I was speaking about MEIS scheme & resources being spread thin & need for creating global champions in manufacturing sector. https:\/\/t.co\/6eugmtoinB<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) December 8, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Hindustan Times tweet and article were based on a PTI report. After Kant\u2019s reaction, Hindustan Times deleted the tweet as well as the article. The link now opens to a page that states, \u201cThis story, sourced from news agency Press Trust of India, has been withdrawn<\/a>“. The PTI story, however, is available on other publications like Financial Express<\/a> and India Today<\/a> while The Indian Express has changed<\/a> its original headline of \u201cIndia has too much democracy, tough reforms difficult\u201d to \u201cIndia needs more reforms, states must take lead: NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant\u201d.<\/p>\n
In fact, Swarajya tweeted that “some mischievous elements have attempted to distort” and quote Kant’s statement out of context.<\/p>\n
\nSwarajya’s interaction with @amitabhk87<\/a> was on PLI & manufacturing and not on political systems. His response was in the context of spreading resources too thin & not creating global champions. Some mischievous elements have attempted to distort & quote it totally out of context.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Swarajya (@SwarajyaMag) December 8, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Meanwhile, IBTimes has already fact-checked<\/a> whether he made the statement and concluded that his remarks were taken out of context.<\/p>\n
What exactly did Kant say?<\/h4>\n