Former Chief Financial Officer and Board Member at Infosys Ltd. Mohandas Pai and Hotmail Founder Sabeer Bhatia got involved in a spat on social media after the latter's comments on India's GDP growth.
In a video posted on May 28, Bhatia had questioned whether India had really overtaken Japan in terms of GDP. "We overtook Japan in GDP...but can you feel it in your pocket? Growth without distribution is just inflation in disguise," he had said in the video posted on X.
Pai hit back at the Hotmail founder for his comments. "You had no role in India's progress...We will grow India and build our future," he said.
He called Bhatia an "economic refugee". "...Stop pontificating and shut up. We will grow India and build our future. We do not need you. You are toxic and a hate monger," Pai said.
Man @sabeer you are an economic refugee, left India long ago. Good riddance to bad rubbish. You had no role in India's progress. So stop pontificating and shut up. We will grow India and build our future. We do not need you. You are toxic and a hate monger. https://t.co/ETpI4ViUuy
May 30, 2025To this, Bhatia commented that, "I see hate comments in your tweets...mine are loaded in logic."
Pai hit back saying Bhatia was a hate monger. "We stayed back, worked very hard, paid our taxes and grew India. We will grow our industry and the future! All you do is abuse India and Indians. We celebrate our achievements as we did it, not you, and then go back to hard work to build India. Do not need you." he said.
AdvertisementRubbish. You are the useless hate monger who belittles our achievements. We stayed back, worked very hard, paid our taxes and grew India. We will grow our industry and the future! All you do is abuse India and Indians. We celebrate our achievements as we did it not you, and then… https://t.co/C8bgmB6yzY
May 30, 2025The back and forth had netizens choosing sides, with one user commenting in support of Pai. "You said it Pai sir! There is nobody ready to even sniff him these days. He wants to give his gyan to us."
"Means we should not think of growing economy, India is most populous country in world and yes in order to elevate people from poverty we need not to be at $4 trillion, but need to be at $40 trillion. Instead of criticising, celebrate every small milestone towards this direction. Please contribute instead of criticising," another user said in response to Bhatia's comments.
"You are celebrating a pretty mediocre 'Hotmail' success like a 'Hotmale', as though you have landed on Mars. Sabeer, you are cutting a sorry figure. No one needs your advice, you are not a Musk or a Bezos. In India, today's school students are more intelligent than you. Stay away!!" reacted another user.
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