Re: "Free" WiFi in Delhi

Dear Suresh / Akshay

Because you have said that I am implying that the "character" of
members of this list is questionable, I am responding to both of you.

1) As far as I know this is a list to discuss telecom / internet
issues between concerned "stakeholders". The list archives will show
that from time to time attempts have been made clarify the objectives
of the list which are listed in 9 points here:- http://india-gii.org/

2) So here are the facts:-
a) 18-MARCH-2015:
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/03/18/delhi-dialogue-commission-aap_n_6891736.html?

"The new task force is a part of Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC), an
advisory body of the AAP government, which will, as of now, have
startup guru Mahesh Murthy, Medianama founder Nikhil Pahwa and CIS
policy director Pranesh Prakash, as members.
..
"This project will help bolster the internet economy, spur trade and
tourism, improve women's safety and security applications, increase
worker productivity, make the city more attractive to business,
bolster the economy, bridge the digital divide and make the government
more accessible and responsive to its citizens," an official said."

Please note that this says that report states that the 3 are members
of of the Delhi Dialogue Commission. I am surprised since as far as I
know Pranesh and Mahesh are from Karnataka.
As the Commission's website is blank about all this, I had directly
asked the list members about this since it is ON-TOPIC and of GREAT
PUBLIC INTEREST concerning as it does PUBLIC MICRO-COMMUNCIATION
TECHNOLOGIES / FACILITIES which people like Arun and Vickram have been
fighting for since day 1.

http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_ddc/DDC/Home/Terms+of+Reference+of+Delhi+Dialogue+Commission

If you Suresh, as a moderator, feel differently, then I suggest we
initiate a wider debate on the purpose of this list and who should be
members.

It was after I protested about the functioning / legality of this DDG
they hastily issued a public notice for engagement of "facilitators"
fro WiFi - among other things - which closed on 17 APRIL 2015.
http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_ddc/DDC/Home/Engagement+of+facilitators+etc+in+the+Delhi+Dialogue++Commission

b) That there was 1 pubic notice issued as an advertisement in leading
newspapers of Delhi, by the Secy Dept of IT/GoNCTD which made no
mention at all of any Delhi Dialog Commission and this task force.
That subsequently after seeing my responses, or at least my first
remarks on the scheme on IAC's  list - which has over 1,000 AAP
people, the AAP govt hastily formed this Delhi Dialogue Commission
which separately, and I stress on separately, invited suggestions /
comments from the public through informal PRESS RELEASES which caused
"thousands" of electronic messages to be sent supporting this "Wifi in
Delhi".scheme - emails / Whastapp etc - and which I say are SPAM in
the same way that the same people SPAMMED the TRAI's recent process to
drown out sober analytical voices.

c) That last year Pranesh Prakash, a list member, had approached this
list for 66-A and we had a good discussion in which all the persons I
am naming in this post participated. That on 1 April 2015, Nikhil
Pahwa, another list member, had posted to the list for the TRAI OTT
RFC and we had a jolly good discussion.

d) That as far back as Apil 2014, Mahesh Murthy reposted somebody's
ping on Facebook that people would be making money, what was the harm
in it etc, which AAP Karnataka proudly circulated on Facebook to seek
votes for AAP. - and which I linked to. So its certainly very curious
that we have 2 (out of 3) experts from Karnataka on a secretive Delhi
Govt. task force which I have been asked to appear before tomorrow.

e) That it is also in public domain that before the Delhi 2015
elections, and stated so in AAP's own manifesto, that AAP as a party
had held extensive consultations with telecom providers for "free wifi
in Delhi". My sources say there was heavy funding, disguised, by these
interests to AAP to put up huge banners and posters all over Delhi
with Kejriwal's photo promising "FREE WIFI". This forms part of my
submissions and I have ALREADY SAID SO to the Secy of IT / Delhi Govt
fromally.

So considering all this, there is no INNUENDO whatsover from my side.
I am clearly and directly stating I have reason to believe that this
is a SCAM dating from Congress days  to misuse and siphon Central Govt
funds under the SEMT and NeGP programs of DEITY which AAP is going to
carry out in Delhi. This prospective scam has been treading water in
Delhi since 2012. All the notifications are in public domain on Govt
websites for anybody who cares to search for them..

Since I have been asked to participate tomorrow, and since I had made
it very clear as part of my formal submissions that I would only
interact directly with GOVT SERVANTS and not with any "facilitators"
aka "touts", and since my name is funnily not on the final list of
participants which has been published on the website despite my
confirming my participation
http://delhi.gov.in/DoIT/DoIT_IT/PDF/StakeholdersConsultation.pdf
I suppose this list will have to wait and watch to see what transpires.
I'm sure that our list members are doing what they are doing with
their eyes wide open.

NB: I repeat I have made no INNUENDO about my list co-members
concerning this on this list. Also, this is not only DELHI Govt, this
is a NATION-WIDE scheme using CENTRAL GOVT funding / disbursements.

Sarbajit

On 4/26/15, Suresh Ramasubramanian <[email protected]> wrote:
> As far as I can see, right now there is innuendo and bluster rather than any
> available facts.
>
> So - Sarbajit - produce facts. And produce them to the delhi government.
>
> Keep them off this list especially as you seem to like implying that the
> character of the people involved in whatever you protest against is
> questionable.
>
>
>> On 26-Apr-2015, at 10:57 am, Akshay Mishra <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Please send a direct email. India-gii neither is a entity which was
>> approached nor is responsible for it. Why raise the questions to the
>> individuals in this forum.
>>
>> Also since its delhi gormint it better be handled there. Raising the topic
>> may be relevant to the group but asking individuals is not. Please keep
>> names out since they are not obliged to reply on this forum.
>>
>> I am not associated with either but don't like this forum getting subtle
>> political tones.
>>
>> Akshay
>
>