BJP Spokesperson Amit Malviya and Biocon Chairperson and Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar Shaw on Monday, 2 December, were locked in an argument on a TV debate, in the former said Shaw funds the Independent Public Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF), which he alleged supports “anti-Modi propaganda.”
“There is a fund called IPSMF to which her company is one of the biggest donors. They routinely fund a lot of vicious new-age media which runs an anti-government propaganda. No one has ever made any point about it.”Amit Malviya, BJP Spokesperson
Malviya's accusations come after Shaw on Monday said India Inc is “neither anti-national nor anti-government,” continuing her support for veteran industrialist Rahul Bajaj who stated that corporate India was afraid of criticising the Narendra Modi government.
However, Shaw responded angrily to Malviya’s comment and denied her company funds IPSMF.
“It is absolutely lies that my company sponsors or promotes any print media...My company does not do that. I do not do it personally, I’m sorry.”Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson & MD, Biocon
“I’ve only joined the forum...we don’t just fund that. I think there are a number of publications that are being funded. I don’t have a say in who they fund and who they don’t,” Shaw retorted.
However, a perusal of the Foundation's records show that Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is listed among the major donors. The IPSMF has in turn given grants to several media outlets.
Industrialist and chairperson of the Bajaj Group, Rahul Bajaj, on Saturday, 30 November, said that people had the freedom to critique the UPA government but the current regime has created an environment of fear and uncertainty.
Further, Malviya continued his attack on Bajaj and said the inability to “dictate to the Finance Minister” about her course of action or to inform the prime minister about what is “troubling them,” which in turn doesn’t help their businesses, is the reason the issue of the “fear of atmosphere” being raked up.
“We welcome criticism but we do not appreciate criticism that is rooted in your political agenda,” Malviya said.
‘You Have a Lot to Explain’
BJP overseas in-charge Vijay Chauthaiwale also hit out at Shaw in a series of tweets and said she has a lot of explain. “Is your current criticism on Modi government linked to your donations to IPSMF, either in your personal capacity or as a corporate donations?” Chauthaiwale questioned.
Further, Chauthaiwale said, “I respect Shaw as biotech entrepreneur, a field very familiar to me. But she can’t make sweeping comments on the government and then say that she owes no explanation on which media house she funds or why does she defend Vijay Mallya.”
(With inputs from IANS.)
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