WIEF 2013 now nothing more than a small Congress-tilted event

Ahmedabad, 4 March 2013

Former Union minister Suresh Prabhu has decided to boycott The Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF) – 2013 to show solidarity with Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi whose keyynote address was canceled by the organizers to avoid “the potential polarising reactions from sub-segments.” Suresh Prabhu is from Shiv Sena and he was minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

It is learnt that Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani is also not going to deliver his keynote address at the forum. In earlier version of the website of Wharton India Economic Forum, Gautam Adani was shown as one of the keynote speakers, however in newer version of website, Adani is absent in the list of keynote speakers. His company still figures as a Platinum sponsor of the event. (Update: Adani Group cancels sponsorship of Wharton event )

With cancellation of Modi’s address and boycott by Suresh Prabhu, the 17th Wharton India Economic Forum has now become a Congress dominated event. Diversity of thoughts, varieties of ideas and multidimensional discussions will be totally absent.

Look at the pro-Congress govt tilt of the event – Union minister and Congress MP Milind Deora and Congress-ruled UPA government’s Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will be key speakers in this event now. Prime Minister of India’s adviser Samir Mitra, Well known Modi critic couple Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi who have been nominated to Rajya Sabha one-by-one will be other panelists participating in event.

While the shadow of politics is evident in the sequence of events, Wharton is being criticized in social media and on the ground in Gujarat and India. Take this example: Well known woman entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar Shaw on Twitter said: “Wharton India Forum. No blow to Modi but a blot on Indian student organizers – most unprofessional for not being aligned.”

Pritish Nandy said on Twitter: “Sad Narendra Modi’s address at Wharton cancelle owing to outrage. Disagree with Modi on most things, but he must have the right to his say.”

Chetan Bhagat said on Twitter:Dear Wharton, the country you belong to routinely makes friends with dictators and military govts who used guns to be in power. Remember that.

Swapan Dasgupta said on Twitter:Thank you Wharton. Yo have added another few percentage points to NAMO’s popularity ratings in India. Question is why did Wharton ask him to speak in the first place. To delight in being able to insult him? Yesterday on Facebook a PR man who is linked to Congress, wrote that west fears NAMO will start World War 3! That is the level of paranoia.

B.Raman said on Twitter: Wharton’s discourtesy to NaMo will add to groundswell of support for him. Whether NaMo becomes PM or not will depend on voters and not Wharton.

Suhel Sheth said on Twitter:Wharton to invite A Raja and Suresh Kalmadi to speak on transparency and probity in public life. Raja Bhaiyaa on stand-by with noose. Wharton to invite Mayawati to talk about public erections of life-size statues of beautiful people. Wharton to invite the former Pope on ‘Retirement: A holy beginning…’ Wharton to invite Manmohan Singh on ‘How public silence can be influential.’ Wharton to invite Al Gore and LK Advani to speak on ‘An office we never wanted’. Rajnikant to invite Wharton to become a college! Wharton to invite Rahul Gandhi.For the last India Economic Forum ever. Wharton to invite ND Tiwari on ‘Discoveries of DNA.’

Minhaz Merchant said on Twitter:Wharton big loser in Modi row-losing Adani sponsorship and reputation for independent thinking. Termites in action@ Wharton their latest victim.