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Microsoft CEO blasts India’s citizenship law
AFP -January 16, 2020 8:47 AM
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The law has sparked nationwide protests. (AP pic)
NEW DELHI: Microsoft’s chief executive hit out at the government of his native India and joined criticism of a new citizenship law that opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi say is anti-Muslim.

The legislation makes it easier for persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to gain citizenship, but Muslims are excluded because Modi says they do not qualify as such.

The law has sparked nationwide protests that have left at least 27 people dead, and stoked fears that India’s 200 million Muslims will be marginalised.

Speaking at an event in New York, Microsoft boss Satya Nadella implied the law could stop a talented immigrant from making a mark in India, as he had done as a new arrival in the United States, according to a transcript of his remarks tweeted by BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith.

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“I would love to see a Bangladeshi immigrant who comes to India and creates the next unicorn in India or becomes the next CEO of Infosys,” Nadella said, referring to an Indian IT giant.

“If I had to sort of mirror what happens to me in the US, I hope that’s what happens in India.”

Nadella was born and educated in Hyderabad before moving to the US to do a Master’s degree. He joined Microsoft in 1992 and later became a US citizen.

Nadella’s comments sparked social media storm in India.


Ramachandra Guha, a renowned historian detained at a recent protest, tweeted: “I am glad Satya Nadella has said what he has. I wish that one of our own IT czars had the courage and wisdom to say this first. Or to say it even now.”

But Meenakshi Lekhi, a lawmaker from Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said Nadella’s comments were a “perfect example” of how the “literate need to be educated”.

“Precise reason for (the law) … is to grant opportunities to persecuted minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan,” she tweeted.

Nadella was less critical in a statement issued Tuesday by Microsoft India.

“Every country will and should define its borders, protect national security and set immigration policy accordingly,” the statement quoted him as saying.

“I’m shaped by my Indian heritage, growing up in a multicultural India and my immigrant experience in the United States.

“My hope is for an India where an immigrant can aspire to found a prosperous start-up or lead a multinational corporation benefitting Indian society and the economy at large

India now will switch to open source. Bodo Microsoft

Diamlah MS. Quickly solve your market share problem first!

Err... Is India going to boycott Microsoft now?

india ban microsoft .

Sundar Pachal kata ok

What diam. U say you anti racist but if muslim can't get citizenship in india that can satisfy you??

dah ada citizenship lain, ckp mmg easy la...

I just don't like MS. LOL.

More precisely, i am anti XBOX.

diamlah microsoft
go fix ur stupid updater patch crap before nak bising benda lain la

considering india is more democratic and freedomland itself it can really be considered this is the ppl's choice
wont be surprise ppl there would say to the muslim to go pakistan. historically that triggered the split no?

Go back to india

Muslim nations make it hard for non-Muslims to get citizenship, so tit for tat.


Why is Satya so diam diam about Malaysia's citizenship problems also? We only welcome Muslims and give them IC very easily compared to qualified non-Muslims.

India will start to use Google Docs.

muslim is not a race.. how to say it is racist when it equally reject all muslim regardless of ethnicity?

India must ban microsoft now


Pride of superpower must be uphold

habisla. suprapawa ban microsop next.

supapawar2020
india do not need Microsoft, they can hack any computer in the world using Windows Media Player only

boycott microsoft
lel

india will boycott US now

kecian MS want to be fair but penjilat india marah pula

Satya: Malaysia? Is that somewhere in Nepal?

You want us to start buddist and hindu education camp in malaysia??

All hail sosma

India gonna ban microsoft or not now

The new law is about granting citizenship to persecuted non-Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh & Afghanistan. Muslims are NOT being persecuted there, so India sees no reason to grant them this special citizenship.

baru keluar gua?

India will use Apple MacOs nao

ere wtf? Indian Muslims existed in India for centuries? hello? not tokking abt new citizens here bodoh

Yup. Malaysia majority should have no say in this matter at all. Ownself practice racists discriminatory policies, don't even think of complaining about others.

Microsoft lol, stop it. You just a souless money making monopolizing company, not an activist organization. 😩

so mamakthir is right after all

Use Linux lah. Apple even worse than MS.

last time Indon and southern Thai get red IC. but now PRC get blue IC

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so now india will start boycott microsoft?
so they're now same as china?

you should stfu and stop making urself a joke...period

Many don't understand but it is to help the many non Muslim refugees from Pakistan escaping persecution. Now they no longer have to live in refuge camps.

STFU back to you. WHAM!