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Jensen Huang resigns as Nvidia CEO amid allegations while Jammu and Kashmir faces a new terror alert after attacks on security forces.
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00:00Hello and welcome to an India First special broadcast coming to you from Shenzhen in China.
00:05I'm Gaurav Savant. The story we're talking about is making waves across the Pacific Ocean from the United States to
00:11China.
00:12And that's the story of Jensen Huang, the CEO of the NVIDIA company.
00:19In fact, news just coming in, Jensen Huang has stepped down as the President, CEO and a member of the
00:26NVIDIA Corporation.
00:27This after that huge scandal involving an alleged honey trap with a woman of Chinese origin against someone who had
00:39worked very closely with Jensen Huang, Alice Huang.
00:44She, according to reports, is in China. Authorities are in touch with her.
00:49But there was another scandal of another alleged romance with a member of his core team at NVIDIA.
00:59And following which, a decision was taken and Jensen Huang has reportedly stepped down as the CEO, President and a
01:08member of the board.
01:10News also coming in that the Executive Vice President and the Chief Finance Officer of NVIDIA has taken over as
01:20the interim CEO till the time the board is able to find another CEO for the company.
01:26This interim arrangement will continue for some time.
01:29News also coming in that the Chief Finance Officer and the Executive Vice President has been a part of the
01:37organization since 2013
01:39and has played a very critical role in reorganizing the finances and revamping the organization.
01:46So she understands the nuts and bolts of the organization, knows the entire entity well,
01:53and will ensure smooth functioning till the time a new CEO is found.
01:58But reports seem to indicate, and these are reports that are coming in from the United States of America,
02:05Jensen Huang wanted to continue, wanted to keep it as business as usual, but other board members weren't very comfortable
02:12about it.
02:13And especially after reports of the espionage or what has been described in the American media as sexpionage,
02:21reports went absolutely viral and not just one, but an affair with two women outside his marriage.
02:29I want to quickly cut across and bring in India Today's Rohit Sharma,
02:32who's getting us the latest developments on this big breaking story here on India Today.
02:36Rohit, what more can you tell us?
02:38Is it now officially confirmed that Jensen Huang will be stepping down as CEO, President and member of the board?
02:46Yes, it has been confirmed, Gaurav.
02:48I think, as you said, you know, when we broke the story earlier, you know, the Collette Kress,
02:54she's the current executive vice president, and she'd be taking over.
02:57She's doing this as an interim job.
02:59The board will still go ahead and look for a replacement in the future.
03:04But as of now, you know, he has resigned.
03:06He was under tremendous pressure since last week or so, ever since the story broke.
03:12We've also seen now new reports that have come in that Jensen Huang also had another relationship with somebody in
03:19NVIDIA.
03:20And so there was a lot of pressure, a lot of political pressure, a lot of talk within the White
03:24House about what to do and how to proceed.
03:26Although President Trump had said he believes Jensen Huang,
03:29but I think the NVIDIA taking a bold decision here and deciding to do away with Jensen Huang.
03:36So he wanted to continue his work with her, too.
03:39But I think, you know, I think he was given a kind of a graceful exit by letting me resign
03:43and choosing Collette Kress,
03:44who's been with the company since 2013.
03:46We do also know for a fact that NVIDIA is proceeding.
03:50There was a lot of talk about if they would have their third quarter fiscal financial result,
03:54which will be announced on November 17.
03:56So that's still on schedule, which will be followed by earning calls at 2 p.m. on November 17.
04:02So essentially this ends, you know, this this mess for right now.
04:06I think there's going to be a lot of investigations internally with NVIDIA.
04:11There's also going to be an investigation by the U.S. Congress.
04:13There's also going to be an investigation with the national intelligence to understand how this happened
04:18and to what extent was national security compromised when Jensen was having this illicit affair with alleged Chinese spies.
04:26Okay.
04:29So I am in China right now and reports seem to indicate that China has dismissed all allegations of being
04:37involved
04:38in what has been described as a sexpionage in the United States of America.
04:42They say they had nothing to do with it.
04:45But American media is reporting that Alice Wong is no longer in the States and that she's back in Beijing.
04:51What more do we know of initial investigations?
04:54There were some reports that seem to indicate that the Federal Bureau of Investigation
04:58would also carry out a parallel investigation apart from the internal investigation of NVIDIA,
05:03which means there would be multiple investigations, as you mentioned, including one by the Congress.
05:08There's going to be Congress, Gaurav.
05:10There's going to be a CIA.
05:12There's going to be the ODNI.
05:15There's going to be a lot of investigation.
05:16Internally, NVIDIA would do its own.
05:18But I think that the bottom line is, I mean, you do expect the Chinese to come out and say,
05:23look, we deny any of this, right?
05:25I mean, you would not expect them to own up to it.
05:27What we do also know is that her social media profiles have been scrubbed.
05:30What we also know is that there was a story about how somebody in China who works as a journalist
05:36said,
05:37she started her career out as a journalist.
05:39She put it on Weibo, which is a website, it's kind of a Twitter, I think, of China.
05:44And they had to ask her, the Chinese authority asked them to delete that tweet or post and all of
05:51the references.
05:51So there's a lot that will unravel in the next months or so, Gaurav.
05:56But if this wasn't serious, as you would know, this wouldn't have happened.
06:00So this is very serious.
06:02It's important also for viewers to understand that this is about providing the American chips to China,
06:09which was banned, and finding a route to be able to allow NVIDIA to supply those chips
06:14so that China can sort of compete with the U.S.
06:19So it's a very serious allegation.
06:21We'll have to wait and see what parties tell us.
06:23But for now, these investigations will continue.
06:29Is there any clarity on others who may have been involved?
06:36Was Jensen Huang operating solely in a situation where he was allegedly compromised,
06:43even though initial reports seem to indicate nothing had been compromised?
06:46Of course, that we'll know post-investigations.
06:48But another lady in the same organization, Caroline Powell, Kimberly Powell, what more details do we know about that?
06:59Because she apparently was directly reporting to him.
07:02And the American media seems to indicate that their association wasn't completely professional.
07:10It wasn't.
07:11And that was another affair that we were talking to earlier, Gaurav.
07:15There have been reports of another affair that Jensen Huang had when he was serving in this capacity.
07:19And unfortunately, she was reporting directly to him while he still remains married.
07:23So that was another reason why NVIDIA started forcing their hands last weekend, as we know.
07:29And on Sunday, they had that big meeting where they decided they want to see how they want to proceed
07:34and take this forward.
07:36Jensen, as we know, has spoken to President of the United States, President Donald Trump.
07:40President Donald Trump said that Jensen believed that he did not know that this lady that he was involved with
07:45was a Chinese spy.
07:47And President Trump believes that he said, I believe what he had to say.
07:50So there's a lot of interesting dynamics.
07:53But at the heart of it all, Gaurav, you know, two important things to understand, right?
07:57There has been a lot of concerns in national security in America about Chinese spy.
08:02We've seen them operating at student level.
08:04We've seen them operating at professor level.
08:06Now we're seeing at the top executive level in the tech company, one of the biggest tech companies in the
08:10U.S.
08:10So that tells you how deep the operations go.
08:13That's number one.
08:14The other issue at hand is compromising security of these chips, these all-important chips that America has put ban
08:21on to be exported out to China
08:24so that America can maintain its lead in AI and superintelligence, as President Trump calls it,
08:28to be able to find a bad door by honey-trapping somebody like Jensen Huang.
08:33You know, it's kind of an interesting Silicon Valley watergate source, you say.
08:42Oh, absolutely.
08:43It's being described as the Silicon Valley watergate scandal.
08:47But, you know, for somebody, if she were a spy, and I'm not disputing whatever American intelligence is saying as
08:52of now,
08:53or reports that seem to indicate, for a spy to have so many pictures out in the open,
09:00for so many videos out in the open, all of them, you know, the pictures of they're drinking wine together,
09:06traveling overseas together, some of the pictures, you know, where the relationship is more than just professional between two colleagues.
09:14It was quite out in the open for everyone to see.
09:18Is there an explanation for that yet?
09:22No.
09:23In fact, Gaurabai, we do know that the intelligence agency started tracking these reports a year,
09:28more than before that, a year and a half ago, when they were first alerted about that this person,
09:32that NVIDIA CEO is, you know, hanging out with, and these open spaces could be a potential spy.
09:38So they started investigating.
09:39We do also know that it was a memo that was shared internally a year ago.
09:43In fact, Secretary Marco Rubio, when President Trump was flying to China,
09:48had flagged President Trump on Air Force One about this report that NVIDIA CEO could be compromised.
09:55And they still proceeded with that.
09:57So there's that idea of, you know, like we were tracking and trying to understand what was going on.
10:02But the length and breadth of it, it does take time for them to uncover all of that.
10:06And not the first time this has happened.
10:08Gaurab, you know, I'll remind our viewers about essentially, I think in 2013-2014,
10:13there was this Chinese spy in Silicon Valley.
10:16Her name is Fang Fang.
10:18And she was, you know, hanging out with a lot of local politicians.
10:22She was hanging out with House of Representatives, candidates even, funding their campaign.
10:27So FBI took time.
10:28They alerted all these leaders.
10:29And before they could apprehend her, she obviously fled the U.S.
10:33So the Chinese operation, as I've been saying, Gaurab,
10:36I think it is a matter of concern for the U.S. authorities at all levels.
10:40You know, we talk about politicians.
10:41Now we're talking about CEOs, you know, and big CEOs at that.
10:46So I think we'll have to wait and watch what authorities say.
10:49But again, they spent a year and a half learning about this lady.
10:51So obviously, with authority that we can say that she was doing things on the behalf of the Chinese government.
11:00Oh, absolutely.
11:02And keep tracking that story.
11:03I will come back to you for more because reports in America seem to indicate
11:06that Jensen Huang wanted to continue as CEO.
11:10He, in fact, according to reports, tried to pretend that it will be business as usual,
11:16but the company clearly wouldn't have it given the kind of stress
11:19the company and the country are under right now.
11:23Rohit, keep tracking that story.
11:24I will come back to you for more on this as it develops.
11:27In fact, on the other side of a break, we will have more developments on the story for you.
11:33But for the moment, I want to shift to our top story here on India today.
11:37And that is the return of terror to Jammu and Kashmir.
11:42So there were two instances, two incidents.
11:45One, yesterday we reported how a CRPF NACA, a checkpoint, three CRPF personnel were targeted at a NACA in Kashmir.
11:55This happened in Kulgam.
11:57And Kulgam at one point of time was the hotbed of terror.
12:01That part of Kashmir has been a trouble spot for some time.
12:05But over the years, especially after the 5th of August 2019,
12:09the abrogation of Article 370 or the use of Article 370 to defang it,
12:15situation started improving, balakot airstrikes, and mostly after Operation Sindur.
12:20And there are several parameters, but then politics on this has escalated.
12:24So that was one incident, the CRPF incident.
12:27And then bodies of two SPOs, special police officers,
12:32they were found in the forests of Kishtawad, bullet riddled bodies.
12:38Of course, tremendous distance between Kulgam and Kishtawad, two separate incidents.
12:44So far, security forces had been saying that the situation is under control.
12:49Foreign terrorists down to a handful, local terrorist recruitment down tremendously in Jammu and Kashmir,
12:56but not yet nil.
12:58Of course, the Central Reserve Police Force and with great aplomb,
13:01the nation celebrated an entire year of casualty-free operations.
13:06And the CRPF is very extensively deployed along the length and breadth of our country in troubled spots.
13:12But then this incident of three non-fatal casualties and, of course, two SPOs being killed
13:19and their bullet-ridden bodies found has once again not only raised the red flag,
13:24but it's also led to an intense political war of words between the National Conference and PDP on one side
13:31and the BJP on the other.
13:33We'll make you listen to statements of tall leaders like Farouk Abdullah,
13:37former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir,
13:41former Union Minister, Member of Parliament,
13:44and also Mehmooba Mufti, again former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir,
13:48both saying what happened to all the tall claims of zero terror post-abrogation of Article 370
13:55and Operation Sindur.
13:57The BJP saying terrorism is dying, it's on its last legs, it does flare up now and then,
14:04but what about statistics?
14:06And take a look at the statistics on your television screen,
14:09they very clearly show, especially after Operation Sindur, terrorism, the incidents have gone down.
14:16If I were to talk about stone pelting post the abrogation of Article 375, August 2019,
14:22is where Union Home Minister Amit Shah had made that big statement on the floor of the House
14:28that Article 370 and that integration of Jammu and Kashmir will happen, it has to happen,
14:35eek desh mein doh pradhan, doh vidhan, doh nishan nahi ho sakte,
14:38stone pelting, incidents that were more than 2,000 a year, down to virtually nil now.
14:46And that's a huge achievement.
14:48But then these terror incidents, they're a cause for grave concern.
14:50We'll talk about it. We have experts joining us on this broadcast.
14:53But before that, listen in to this intense war of words, the political war of words.
15:41We'll talk about it.
15:50So, I want to quickly bring in Meer Fareed, my colleague who's been tracking developments on the story.
15:56Also joining me here on this special broadcast is Lieutenant Channel KJS Dhillon, former Kashmir Corps commander.
16:02He incidentally was the Corps commander of Kashmir not only when the Pulwama terror attack happened,
16:08but also the hunt for the terrorists and, of course, the abrogation of Article 370 on the 5th of August
16:152019.
16:16And he served extensively as a young lieutenant all the way to a lieutenant general in Jammu and Kashmir.
16:22And subsequently as DGDIA, he joins us on this broadcast.
16:25Also with me is Arvind Kumar Jain, one of India's most respected senior police officers,
16:31former director general of police, somebody who served extensively not just in police,
16:36but also in the Central Armed Police Forces and understands terrorists and their mindset.
16:42But first, I want to bring in Meer Fareed into this conversation.
16:44Meer, what are the latest that you can tell us in terms of the identification of this Lashkar-e-Taiba
16:52terrorist,
16:53a suspected school dropout who became a carpenter, then joined the ranks, then joined terror ranks.
17:00What more do we know and what are the efforts to track him?
17:05Well, Gaurav Latif Bhatt came into prominence.
17:08In fact, became Category A, most wanted terrorist for the security agencies after a twin incident that he himself carried
17:17out.
17:17Now, on July 26th, he targeted a cop in Anathang.
17:22He shot him dead from close range.
17:23And then a few days after that in Kulgam, another soft target where two brick-field neighbors were killed.
17:29And that really brought him on the radar of the security agencies.
17:32Since they are trying to track him down, multiple operations, but quite clearly he went radio silent since.
17:39No communication, no inputs, no footprints, digital footprints.
17:43Now, post that, now, this latest attack, I can tell you that while the security agencies do feel that he
17:50could have a hand on this,
17:51but still, they do not have any credible evidence to completely zero in the investigations on him.
17:58Because there are also inputs that there could be another sleeper module that could have got activated post instructions from
18:05the handlers in POK,
18:07and they could have carried out this attack.
18:09There are also reports that the local terrorist who was part of this hit squad was more of a navigator,
18:17someone who showed them the area place, and it was carried out by FTs.
18:22So, that is the other element.
18:24But quite clearly, also, Gaurav, there are inputs that there could have been infiltration that may have happened in Gurej.
18:30Kupara sector, some groups who, using the jungle forest terrain and tracks, could have reached South Kashmir as well.
18:38So, there are multiple angles to this investigation.
18:40The security forces want to be sure who is behind it and post that there could be clarity in operations
18:46against him,
18:47because they are at large, and we also got inputs that they have got instructions that they need to carry
18:53out more sensational attacks,
18:54and that's why Pan Valley, there is an alert, especially in South Kashmir, multiple operations.
18:59And all the QRTs, the police army, they have been given clear instructions to be boots on the ground
19:07and ensure that this threat is eliminated, because still there are at large, there could be more such attacks.
19:16Stay with me for a moment, General Dhillon.
19:19What is your reading?
19:20You've served so extensively in Jammu and Kashmir.
19:23Is this the return of terror?
19:25And was the country celebrating a bit too soon victory on Pakistan's state-sponsored radical Islamist terror?
19:35Good evening and good evening to all the fellow panelists and your viewers.
19:40I will not call it a return of terror.
19:42I would call it desperate action of Pakistan to keep Kashmir in the news
19:48and also divert attention of the local public from domestic issues of Pakistan,
19:54of high cost, inflation, political instability, military corruption, and all those issues connected.
20:00So, the peace in Kashmir, the dividends are visible, the peace is visible.
20:07Now, these two acts of terror coming so close to each other,
20:11and in the area also which is proximity to the Pirpanjal on either side,
20:16these are the soft targets they have picked up,
20:19and in the areas which are difficult jungles and have a history and tradition
20:23of being a terrorist hotbed and the terrorist hideouts in these jungles.
20:28Now, this timing which we were discussing,
20:31the timing is to disrupt the winter tourist season.
20:35Because, as we all know, during winters, especially in Gulmagg,
20:39a lot of foreign tourists and a lot of foreign skiers come
20:42who would indulge in winter sports at Gulmagg.
20:46And a lot of local tourists in the Christmas holidays
20:48as also international tourists come in for the snow season.
20:53So, just a month before that,
20:55this type of terror activity is basically to disrupt that tourist season
20:59as also to convey a message that Kashmir still is under terrorism.
21:06Whereas, this is a consolidation phase going on of the peace.
21:09And as a military man, I can tell you,
21:11consolidation of peace is the most difficult phase.
21:15When the number of terrorists are high, when the intensity is high,
21:19carrying out high-intensity operations is easy.
21:21But consolidation phase, when, you know, that local,
21:27you can say, the wherewithal or the local civilians are roaming around,
21:31businesses are growing, education is going on,
21:33tourists are around.
21:35At that time, to take out surgically,
21:38terrorists is the most difficult phase.
21:40And that is what is going on now.
21:41But I can assure the viewers,
21:43this is just an abrasion and a desperate act by Pakistan.
21:47It does not mean the return of terror.
21:49It does not mean the peace has been disrupted.
21:52Sir, what is very worrisome, Mr. Jain,
21:56is two incidents taking place.
21:58You know, one is the incident that took place in Kulgaam,
22:01where these terrorists emerged from the bushes,
22:05targeted three CRPF personnel,
22:07and fortunately, all of them have survived.
22:09The second incident of Kishtwad Forest,
22:12the Dachan Forest,
22:13where bullet-riddled bodies of two police officers,
22:16two SPOs have been found,
22:17that is even more worrisome.
22:19And that would show that it's not just South Kashmir,
22:22but it's also, you know,
22:23the Doda-Kishtwad belt,
22:25where terrorism seems to be spreading, Mr. Jain.
22:29I totally agree with General Dhillon.
22:33It is not a return of terrorism at all.
22:36These are cowardly acts on the part of terrorists.
22:40They want people to know that they are still around.
22:44Nothing else.
22:45Number has come down.
22:47There are hardly any terrorists.
22:49Hybrid terrorism is also almost gone,
22:52because tough action has been taken against the terrorists,
22:58and whosoever was providing shelter to them,
23:03the politicians who are providing shelter to them.
23:05So, this action should go on,
23:08and in my opinion, an entire country,
23:10all the political parties should be with the administration.
23:14They should support them.
23:17Action in the right direction is being taken.
23:20And I'm very confident that very soon,
23:23these two terrorists and their harbourers will also be neutralised,
23:28and the Srinagar police,
23:31they're just waiting to get a tip of some solid information
23:37that they are hiding at such-and-such place,
23:40and they will be liquidated.