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The Encyclopedia Britannica describes the Hungarian-born (in 1930) American financier, George Soros as an “author, philanthropist, and activist whose success as an investor made him one of the wealthiest men in the world. He was also known as a powerful and influential supporter of liberal social causes”.
Not many in India, especially social media users, troll armies, and even journalists, had heard of George Soros, whose twitter bio shares he is “the chair of Soros Fund Management LLC and founder of the Open Society Foundations”, till recently. Then the elderly, foreigner then decided to speak about “democratic revival in India” connecting it with the Adani-Hindenburg row on Friday.
Most would have ignored it as just another opinion, even if made by a billionaire, however his words set off an avalanche of angry responses from Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P), and right wing cardres, and even some non B.J.P politicians..
Leading the charge was Union Minister Smriti Irani who asked “every individual” to denounce Soros. She said he sought to “weaken our democratic interests. According to Irani, “India has defeated imperialistic designs before, and shall do so again.” This was the B.J.P’s official response as the party in power to a foreigner individual’s personal opinion.
https://twitter.com/BJP4India/status/1626497673405640704
This was soon followed by the usual slew of attacks on Soros on social media warning the US investor to not ‘interfere’ or comment on India’s democratic process . Irani reportedly went on to accuse Soros of wanting “a weak, pliable government” adding that “ attack on India will be met with the might of Indians.”
Congress veteran and former union minister P Chidambaram, said while he did not agree with most of what Soros said, he put the spotlight on the fragility of the B.J.P itself. “The people of India will determine who will be in and who will be out of the government of India I did not know that the Modi government was so feeble that it can be toppled by the stray statement of a 92 year old rich foreign national.”
https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/1626777072809959424
“Who is George Soros and why is BJP ‘s Troll Mantralaya doing an entire press conference dedicated to him? “ asked Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi asking Irani to “comment on an Israel agency’s interference in India’s electoral process? That is a bigger threat to India’s democracy.”
https://twitter.com/priyankac19/status/1626478807141023744
According to B.J.P’s K.Annamalai George Soros was “irritated by the increasing appeal & the power of the words” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the trolls that have been amplifying the new found hate against Soros, and attempting to spread conspiracy theories linking him with Congress, academics, and activists, are also confused as even Congress politicians have snubbed him.
Responding to Soros saying that the PM-linked Adani scam can initiate a democratic revival in India only depends on the electoral process. “It has nothing to do with George Soros. Our Nehruvian legacy ensures people like Soros cannot determine our electoral outcomes,” stated A.I.C.C general secretary Jairam Ramesh.
https://twitter.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1626495486801903616
On Thursday, Soros, spoke at the 2023 Munich Security Conference saying the Adani controversy can “open doors for the much-needed institutional reforms” adding that he was “expecting democratic revival in India.
News reports quoted the 92-year-old calling Modi and Adani “allies” and that according to him “Adani enterprises tried to raise funds in the stock market but failed. Adani is accused of stock manipulation and his stocks collapsed like a house of cards. Modi is silent. But he will have to answer questions from foreign investors and Parliament.”
Smriti Irani called a press conference and called Soros an economic war criminal who broke the Bank of England, and questioned his pledge of $1billion to “advance personal interests and hurt India’s”. She said Soros “seeks to demonise our democracy, weaken our democratic interests and bring an onslaught on the economy of India so he can gain himself.... PM’s image has not been attacked for the first time. A war is being mounted against India.”
She reportedly also questioned the timing of Soros’ remarks, adding that even Presidents of the United States, France and the United Kingdom PM had been “expressing gratitude to Modi for creating job opportunities in these three nations”, after Air India’s 470 aircraft deal.
As expected, Irani’s words were amplified by the media including NDTV which carried a disclaimer that it is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company. “Mr Adani has strongly denied the charges, calling it a "maliciously mischievous" reputational attack,” reported NDTV on Adani’s response to the Hindenburg allegations.
However, it seems P Chidambaram has been making the most waves in taking the B.J.P to the cleaners addicting it to "ignore George Soros and listen to Nouriel Roubini." Roubini is CEO of Roubini Macro Associates, a global macroeconomic consultancy firm in New York, reported NDTV, adding that in “a 2006 address to the International Monetary Fund, Mr Roubini warned of the impending recession due to the credit and housing market bubble.”
https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/1626781927901478912
