Re: "Free" WiFi in Delhi

Dear Nikhil

I had done as you suggested and am pursuing the Delhi Dialogue
Commission role in this process and where it fits into the paradigm.

I did so by a formal email addressed to the Secy/IT/GoNCTD today
morning asking why/how a) Pranesh Prakash, b) Mahesh Murthy were
appointed to the task force.  The text of which is available on an IAC
blog in case you want to read it.
http://rti4citizens.blogspot.in/2015/04/iacrg-my-public-grievance-regarding.html

I also attended the meeting today, and noticed that there was nobody
from Delhi Dialogue Commission or its task force present at the
so-called "open" house. The panel consisted of Secy/IT/GoNCTD, a
Director from PMO, one Mr. Adarsh Shastri MLA, some GM from MTNL. I
directly put the involvement of Delhi Dialogue Commission in the
process to Mr. Shastri and asked him how the task force was selected
and whether the DDC was the AAP's equivalent of the NAC - National
Advisory Council. I don't think Shastri's answer will be of interest
to this list - since it was a political answer to a political question
- and IMHO you are deluding yourself if you believe differently, and
especially since you wrote "... The discussions on the task force are
many levels deeper, and there is nothing for me to write until a
decision is taken. ..".  Perhaps you're referring to Google's
suggestion/proposal to GoNCTD that this scheme be implemented by
floating balloons over Delhi.

After the open house, the tech suppliers had private interactions with
Mr. Shastri. I'm not sure if anyone from your task force was present
at these meetings because people like me were excluded.

The dimensions of the WiFi scheme / scam and the players behind it are
now becoming clearer despite the process being conducted in a
secretive and evasive, ie. corrupt manner Since you have elected to be
co-opted into the AAP's irregular ways I really don't think we have
much to say to each other on this issue. Had you been on the official
panel the situation would have been different.

In passing, i would like to retort to Udhay. Our 3 list members
co-opted for this scheme are all persons who profit substantially from
the internet, I don't. I am interested in the public good and not the
money to be made out of it. Anyone with half a brain can see who has
brought transparency to the "WiFi in Delhi" discussion on this list
and who is trying to evade it with ad-hominem innuendo about
"trolling" and conspiracy theories.

Sarbajit

On 4/27/15, Nikhil Pahwa <[email protected]> wrote:
> Udhay: that is correct. As far as I am concerned, that limit has already
> been crossed. I don't need to defend myself, and I won't. I have enough to
> deal with as it is, without random unsubstantiated allegations being
> consistently hurled at me, and my integrity being questioned. I will
> address a few points made, though:
>
>
> Sarbajit,
> in case you have any questions regarding the committee, its members, its
> appointment or its functioning, please take it up with the government when
> you attend the Dept of IT meetings. I joined because they asked me to join.
>