Photos| HTLS 2020 Week 2: Rajnath Singh, Bhupesh Baghel & Nitin Gadkari

The 18th edition of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit returned to its second week with two days of conversations opened by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who spoke about India’s response to terrorism, border resolutions with China and the BJP’s election runs. SBI chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara followed by Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel capped day one. Day two saw freewheeling conversations on the business of entertainment with Ajay Bijli, Chairman, PVR Ltd. and Uday Shankar, Chairman, Star and Disney India. Ending the day was Roads and MSME minister Nitin Gadkari. HTLS 2020 is being held virtually amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and aims to discuss the new realities with its theme of ‘Defining a New Era’. ...read more

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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opened the second week of Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2020 on November 26 on the note that the India’s national security policy was now designed in a way that made another 26/11 attack nearly impossible. Singh lauded the country’s defence forces saying that “our naval and air forces are much better prepared now” and added that there has been a “paradigm shift in India’s naval security.” (HT Photo)

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In conversation with Prashant Jha, Editor - Views, the minister said India has held talks with China and will continue dialogue to resolve the border stand-off. There has been a “perceptional difference” regarding the issue at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, he said. “I want to assure everyone that under PM Modi’s administration, there will be no compromise on India’s border, self-respect and sovereignty,” the minster went on to add. (HT Photo)

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On upcoming elections for the BJP, Singh went as far as saying he cannot rule out a two-third majority for his party in the West Bengal election slated for next year. He also talked about the ongoing agitation by farmers against the three central farm laws and extended an invitation for talks to the protesting agriculturists. (HT Photo)

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The second session saw State Bank of India chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara in conversation with Shereen Bhan, managing editor, CNBC TV-18. Khara said that he saw a “significant improvement” in the second quarter of the economy linked with the government’s move to ‘Unlock’ the Covid-19 lockdown. Further commenting of the state of the Indian economy, Khara said that post-unlock economic activity revival has given hopes to many. (HT Photo)

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Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel capped the first day of the second week of this year’s virtual summit. Highlighting his government’s response to Covid-19, Baghel said that while the entire country suffered during the coronavirus pandemic there was no slowdown in Chattisgarh as his government took various steps to tackle the challenges. (HT Photo)

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The Chhattisgarh CM, when asked about leadership of the Congress, again pitched for Rahul Gandhi, who resigned as its chief after the party’s performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On dissent within the Congress, Baghel said that dissenters do not speak on national issues like Rahul Gandhi, as he questioned what stops these leaders from airing their views within the party forum. (HT Photo)

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A post-Covid world will see the audiences dig deep into good content with theatres, films and sporting events only getting bigger and better. These were among the key takeaways as Ajay Bijli (L), Chairman and MD, PVR Ltd. and Uday Shankar, Chairman, Star and Disney India, discussed the business of entertainment at the HTLS 2020 . (HT Photo)

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On the success of the IPL this year, Uday Shankar said, “We realised whenever IPL happened, it would be a really big one”. When asked to drop some numbers, he said, “In terms of viewership, it is by far the biggest IPL with at least 25-30% more viewership than other seasons… it also tells you how people were keen for the small joys of life.” (HT Photo)

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Next up was Union minister of road transport & highways and MSMEs, Nitin Gadkari in a session moderated by Zakka Jacob, managing editor, CNN-NEWS18. The minister said that “the capacity of the construction equipment manufacturers has increased by 80%” despite Covid-19. Gadkari said that one of the major initiatives has been to improve the situation of the builders and contractors in “these difficult economic times”. (HT Photo)

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Among the senior-most ministers in the Narendra Modi-led government, Gadkari said that for reviving the country’s economy in the post Covid-19 world, it was essential to work on India’s infrastructure specifically on the construction of roads and highways which in turn would create more jobs. (HT Photo)