Lucknow, February 18: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya launched a sharp rebuttal against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on the AI Summit. Accusing Gandhi of being gripped by frustration due to his party’s ouster from power, Maurya dismissed the Congress MP’s criticism as sour grapes.
Gandhi had taken to social media platform X, labeling the AI Summit a disorganized PR stunt rather than a platform to harness India’s talent and data. He alleged that Indian data was being sold off and Chinese products were on display, casting doubts on the event’s intent.
Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, Maurya countered that Gandhi’s bitterness stems from being out of power. ‘Just as Rahul can’t stomach India’s progress, Akhilesh Yadav can’t bear Uttar Pradesh’s advancement,’ he remarked. Highlighting global enthusiasm for the summit, Maurya asserted that India is emerging as the world’s AI hub under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The Deputy CM praised the armed forces for safeguarding borders and emphasized the need for India to lead in every sector. ‘This AI Summit is a giant leap forward with far-reaching impacts,’ he said, noting that the India Mandapam was packed to capacity, reflecting overwhelming interest.
In a separate development, Maurya welcomed Maharashtra’s decision to scrap 5% reservation for Muslims. ‘If this has been done, it’s commendable. The Constitution rejects religion-based quotas, as envisioned by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar,’ he stated, congratulating Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his government for upholding constitutional principles.