Vaishnaw hits back at Jairam Ramesh; says Fairchild founder came to India in 1964, Congress’ “license-permit raj”, “policy paralysis” stalled semiconductor projects

New Delhi [India], August 15 (ANI): Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday hit out at Congress leader Jairam Ramesh over his criticism of Prime Minister’s Modi’s remarks during his Independence Day address that the idea of semiconductors was “killed in the womb” 50-60 years ago, with the Union Minister stating that Fairchild founder Robert Noyce came to India in 1964 and “license-permit raj of Congress did not allow setting up a semiconductor plant”.

The Modi government has embarked on a major semiconductor mission and four more semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) were approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this week.

Responding to a post of Jairam Ramesh on X, Ashwini Vaishanaw asked "why didn’t Congress develop semiconductor industry" in India despite the country having the requisite talent

He said Intel also tried to set up a semiconductor unit in India in 2005-06 but “was not allowed because of the policy paralysis of the UPA regime”. Congress led UPA governments from 2004 to 2010.  

Vaishnaw noted that the semiconductor laboratory, Mohali works at a lab scale and a commercial scale silicon fab works at 20,000-40,000 wafer-starts per month.

“Fairchild founder Robert Noyce came to Bharat in 1964. License permit raj of congress did not allow setting up a semiconductor plant. Went to HongKong. Then founded Intel. Rest is history. Intel once again tried to set up a semiconductor unit in Bharat in 2005-06. Once again it was not allowed because of the policy paralysis of UPA regime. Semiconductor Laboratory, Mohali works at lab scale. A commercial scale silicon fab works at 20,000-40,000 wafer-starts per month,” Vaishnaw said.

The Union Minister said that the semiconductor ecosystem is rapidly expanding under the Modi government and six semiconductor units (one fab and five ATMP) are at different stages of planning, construction and execution and four more having been approved.

 “We are building a silicon fab at 50,000 wafer-starts per month capacity. Six semiconductor units (one fab and five ATMP) are at different stages of planning, construction and execution. Four more (one silicon carbide fab and three ATMP including most advanced packaging unit) approved last week. Entire ecosystem - Design, Fabrication, Packaging, equipment, chemicals, gases - taking shape in Bharat. Two of the largest equipment manufacturers - Applied Materials and Lam Research - are setting up their design, production and validation facilities in Bharat. Why didn’t Congress develop semiconductor industry in Bharat despite our country having requisite talent? @Jairam_Rameshji,” Vaishnaw said.

Jairam Ramesh had attacked PM Modi over his veiled references to Congress governments over the long delay in the semiconductor ecosystem taking shape in the country.    

“One more example of what a pathological liar Mr. Modi is. Semiconductors Complex Ltd established in Chandigarh started operations in 1983,” Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

The Congress leader referred to PM Modi’s remarks in which he said that the idea of semiconductor factory came forth 50-60 years ago but it was “killed in the womb” and the country lost so many decades. 

In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi said that no one can deny that the 21st century is a technology-driven century and every nation which mastered technology has scaled the heights of development, reached the pinnacle, and attained new dimensions of economic power. 

PM Modi said his intention is not to criticise any person or government but to create awareness among youth.

“When we speak of various dimensions of technology, I wish to draw your attention to semiconductors. I do not stand here at the ramparts of the Red Fort to criticise any person or government, nor do I wish to. But it is equally important for the youth of our country to know. In our country, files related to semiconductors started moving 50–60 years ago. The idea of a semiconductor factory began then. My young friends will be shocked to know that today, semiconductors have become a global force—but 50–60 years ago, the idea was stalled, delayed and shelved,”  PM Modi said. 

“The very conception of semiconductors was aborted. We lost 50–60 years. Meanwhile, many countries mastered semiconductors and established their strength in the world. Today we have freed ourselves from that burden and advanced the work on semiconductors in mission mode. Six different semiconductor units are taking shape on the ground, and we have already given the green signal to four new units,” he added.  (ANI)