A full-page ad on Wall Street Journal (WSJ) targeting SC judges and senior govt official has garnered attention. Suddenly what happened that such a prominent portal targeted India & propagate how #India is not a business-friendly country?
𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
The money of the #ad was paid by a Virginia-based ‘Frontiers of Freedom’ which is run by former Republican member George Landrith who filed a Global Magnitsky Act Petition to U.S. Govt against the top Indian govt officials on August 8, 2022.
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Between the Magnitsky Act petition & the WSJ front page ad, Landrith initiated #IndiasMagnitsky11 tag on September 22, to target the 11 high-ranking Indian officials, & seek sanctions against them in the US.
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But this institute was just representing a client - Devas Multimedia Pvt Ltd (its founder Ramchandran Vishwanathan), a satellite company founded in Bangalore, India. Devas has a longstanding legal case with the Indian govt the story of which started in 2005 (till present).
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In 2005, #Devas & #Antrix Corp (ISRO’s commercial wing) signed a deal for leasing 70 MHz of S-band spectrum.
However, in 2011 this deal was cancelled by UPA 2.0 govt citing national security issues when 2G scam was highlighted & talked about in India.
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However, in 2011 this deal was cancelled by UPA 2.0 govt citing national security issues when 2G scam was highlighted & talked about in India.
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It is to be noted that Devas had investments from Deutsche Telekom (has 32% equity stake of German Govt) worth $100mn for nearly 20% stake.
The cancellation of the deal by the Indian Govt gave impetus to legal battle initiated by Devas & its investors in 2011.
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The cancellation of the deal by the Indian Govt gave impetus to legal battle initiated by Devas & its investors in 2011.
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The case became more intense over the years across international arbitration tribunals in France, Canada, and USA. In India, chargesheets were filed by CBI and ED over a fraudulent deal b/w Antrix & Devas leading to facilitation of “wrongful gains” worth Rs 578Cr to Devas.
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Most recently, on Sept 17, 2022 a special court in Bengaluru ordered the issuance of a notice under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act-2018 to Devas Multimedia Pvt Ltd, Ramachandran Viswanathan.
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Indian Govt has taken a diplomatic stride and now seeking the “Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters” signed with the US to monitor, question & arrest Devas’ founder Ramchandran Vishwanathan for his fraudulent deal.
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While the case is still ongoing b/w the Indian govt & Devas’ founder Ramchandran Vishwanathan, portals like WSJ are being used to tarnish & challenge India’s image its sovereignty.
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Earlier, New York Times (NYT) had publicized an ad targeting India, sponsored by Jamaat & MB network.
Worth noting that it is also a time when India is charting a foreign policy course at divergence from the US priority.
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Worth noting that it is also a time when India is charting a foreign policy course at divergence from the US priority.
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And coincidentally, the US-based media have allowed unhinged political and malicious ads against India on numerous occasions.
Must be a coincidence that US media is independent of the US Govt priorities.
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Must be a coincidence that US media is independent of the US Govt priorities.
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