Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has sparked controversy after showcasing a banned Chinese drone in a social media video, where he argued that India needed a “strong production base” for drones rather than “empty words.”
His remarks, however, have drawn sharp criticism from industry experts and political figures who accused him of undermining India’s growing drone sector.
Rahul Gandhi’s Criticism and Industry Response
In his video, Rahul Gandhi claimed that India does not manufacture any components used in drones and lacks expertise in optics. He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, “Drones are not just one technology, they are bottom-up innovations produced by a strong industrial system. Unfortunately, PM Modi has failed to grasp this. While he delivers ‘teleprompter’ speeches on AI, our competitors are mastering new technologies. India needs a strong production base, not empty words.”
However, his remarks were met with strong opposition from Smit Shah, president of the Drone Federation of India (DFI), who accused him of dismissing the country’s advancements in drone technology while promoting a drone manufactured by China’s DJI, a company whose drones have been banned in India since 2022.
Shah refuted Rahul Gandhi’s claims, stating that over 400 Indian companies are currently engaged in drone manufacturing, with more than 50 companies producing key components such as batteries, propellers, and flight controllers.
“The industry is still in its nascent stage and a lot has to be done, but armchair criticism with zero tangible suggestions won’t help. Collective efforts of industry players, academia, and policymakers are truly remarkable,” Shah added.
Questions Over Regulatory Violations
Shah also raised concerns about how Rahul Gandhi acquired and operated the banned DJI drone, questioning whether it was registered under India’s Drone Rules 2021 and if he had obtained a Remote Pilot Certificate, as required by law.
He pointed out that Gandhi’s residence and office likely fell within a red zone, requiring clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before flying any drone. “Do the rules not apply to him? Or does he just not care?” Shah asked.
Political Reactions and Further Criticism
Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai also criticized Rahul Gandhi, urging him to “stop his fake narrative to pull India down.” He highlighted India’s achievements in industrial manufacturing, noting, “India is the 5th largest industrial manufacturing country globally today, 2nd largest steel producer, 2nd largest cement producer, 3rd largest automobile producer, largest 2W manufacturer, 2nd largest mobile phone producer, and 3rd largest power producer.”
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