'Not Sangh's Mouthpiece': RSS After Panchjanya Calls Infosys 'Anti-National'
'Not Sangh's Mouthpiece': RSS After Panchjanya Calls Infosys 'Anti-National'
Days after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-linked journal Panchjanya cast aspersions on India's leading IT corporation, Infosys, the RSS, on Sunday, 5 September, distanced itself from the controversy, saying the journal was not its mouthpiece.
The weekly Panchjanya in its cover story had accused Infosys of being aligned with the 'anti-national forces' such as the 'Naxals, leftists and tukde tukde gang'.
Taking to Twitter, Sunil Ambekar, the All-India publicity in-charge of RSS, said that the article published in Panchjanya "reflects individual opinion of the author".
Panchjanya is not mouthpiece of the RSS and the said article or opinions expressed in it should not be linked with the RSS. @editorvskbharat
— Sunil Ambekar (@SunilAmbekarM) September 5, 2021
Infosys has been under fire for the glitches in the Income Tax Department's new e-filing portal designed by the company. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has given Infosys time till 15 September to fix the issues.
'Panchjanya Stands Firm by Its Report'
"There is a lot of hue and cry over the cover story of the 5th September issue of Panchjanya. Three things are worth noting in this context,” the editor of the journal, Hitesh Shankar, tweeted, listing out the following points:
1) Panchjanya stands firm by with report (sic).
2) If Infosys has objections, it should present its side by urging for a more thorough investigation of these facts in the interest of the company.
3) Some elements are mentioning RSS in this episode due to vested interests. Remember, this report is not related to the Sangh, the report is about Infosys. It is a matter of facts and facts relating to the incompetence of the company.
3) Some elements are mentioning RSS in this episode due to vested interests. Remember, this report is not related to the Sangh, the report is about Infosys. It is a matter of facts and facts relating to the incompetence of the company.#Infosys @epanchjanya @editorvskbharat pic.twitter.com/hNGU2HYVgO
— Hitesh Shankar (@hiteshshankar) September 5, 2021
The RSS-affiliated journal's attack has catalysed no response from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the union government, or any prominent industrial body.
The Indian Express had contacted five ministers from the Narendra Modi's cabinet, seeking responses on the matter. While four of them declined to answer, one said that Infosys could do a better job.
“Infosys could do a much better job. It’s a firm that provides excellent services to foreign firms and I do not understand why it could not deliver the same," the minister stated, as per The Indian Express.
Former Infosys CFO Condemns Panchjanya Piece
Former Infosys Chief Financial Officer TV Mohandas Pai defended the firm, citing Infosys' work on the backend infrastructure of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the new Income Tax Portal.
He added that the writer of the Panchajanya piece seems "unaware of how large projects are done."
Speaking to the Sunday Express, he said, "Before a project like this is released there is something called a user acceptance test – the product is handed over to the client. Only after they do rigorous testing, is it released to the public. It is obvious that the department (Income Tax) owes responsibility for not doing adequate testing.”
RSS weekly Panchajanya attacks Infosys over glitches in I-T, GST portals | Business Standard News. Demented, crazed writers like this see conspiracies behind every shadow! They are not objective and should be condemned https://t.co/pzOWr8Pxlz
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) September 5, 2021
'Govt Going Against Own Principles': Opposition Defends Infosys
Meanwhile, former Corporate Affairs Minister M Veerappa Moily voiced his disapproval of the attack saying that such 'disparaging remarks' do not reflect well on them.
“When such attacks come from the RSS, it is as good as (from) the Government of India… These people talk about Make in India and vocal for local, this goes against their own principles they propagate," Moily was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
“Infosys is internationally acknowledged, if there are any lapses in any deal vis a vis the Government, it should not be attributed as wilful to bring disrepute to the Narendra Modi government as suggested by the RSS," Nationalist Congress Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Majeed Memon stated.
Jairam Ramesh, Others Condemn Attack on Infosys
The scurrilous attack on Infosys in a RSS publication is outrageous and actually anti-national. Companies like Infosys have transformed India and its standing in the world. The article is an attempt to shift the blame from the Govt and deserves to be wholeheartedly condemned!
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 3, 2021
âThen they came for me
— Priyanka Chaturvedið®ð³ (@priyankac19) September 5, 2021
And there was no one left
To speak out for meâ
RSS affiliated Panchajanya, says Infosys is working with anti-national forces and is part of tukde tukde gang. First the attack on Tatas by Commerce Minister&now this. Silence by industry biggies. Okay.
The most startling fact is that RSS is accusing the .@Infosys, made its place on the basis of intellectualism, honesty and commitment to values, on the basis of no concrete evidence. BJP hs left any regime including Cong mush behind in killing reputation on no concrete evidence. https://t.co/px0QeOwBfP
— Adv. Somnath Bharti सà¥à¤®à¤¨à¤¾à¤¥ à¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤à¥: à¤à¥à¤°à¥à¤¨à¤¾ हारà¥à¤à¤¾! (@attorneybharti) September 5, 2021
Per BJP Tatas,who r building new Parliament,r anti-national & per RSS Infosys,who runs ITax Website is tukde-tukde gang! Reflects hypocrisy,mocks PMâs âease of doing businessâ slogan-do Coâs now need certificate of Nationalism from BJP-RSS along with certificate of incorporation?
— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) September 5, 2021
BJP Minister Piyush Goyal blamed Tata Group for acting 'against national interest'
— RR ð®ð³ (@RakshaRamaiah) September 3, 2021
RSS blames Infosys as anti-national.
Ever wondered why no RSS or BJP leader blames Adani or Ambani? https://t.co/XSIAL7cQ0l
Since RSS has branded Infosys as Anti- Hindu , will the bhakts working there quit their jobs ??
— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) September 3, 2021
(With inputs from The Indian Express.)