Purported conversation between Paytm founder and journalist

This is a transcript of a purported conversation between Paytm founder Vijay Shekar Sharma and a journalist. The transcript was released by Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi on December 15 at a press conference in the Parliament premises.

The conversation is about the journalist seeking Sharma’s views on some hackers claiming to have hacked Paytm. Sharma admits to the “attacks” but asks the journalist to “hold on to the story”. Clearly, demonetisation and the subsequent push by the NDA government towards a “cashless” economy have been without proper measures taken on cyber security.

Paytm is said to be the country’s largest mobile payments entity and commerce platform and many helpless citizens have had to switch to it due to the cash crunch. Paytm, interestingly, had put PM Modi’s photograph in its advertisement on the front page of certain newspapers that went to print soon after the demonetisation announcement on November 8 at 8 pm. The government, strangely, has so far has not promoted UPI (Unified Payments Interface), launched by National Payments Corporation of India under the guidance of the Reserve Bank of India.

Full Transcript of the Alleged Conversation between PayTM Founder Vijay Shekhar & a Reporter

Vijay Shekhar :... through another guy talking to them.. and the guy actually clearly denies. नहीं हमने उनसे पूछा...They (Hackers) are saying no.. not yet.. तो आपने किससे बात करी है ? किस से बात करी है ?

Reporter: किसी भी मतलब? They are the ones .. we spoke to them through the id which they had provided.

Vijay Shekhar: And ... I am taking the name.. P___ of FactorDaily?

Reporter: हाँ

Vijay Shekhar:क्योंकि उन्होंने भी यही एक पोस्ट करी थी.. की ये क्या क्या है..तो ..

Reporter: Ya Ya

Vijay Shekhar: उन्होंने तो... They actually had a conversation and they said so..

Reporter: Sorry

Vijay Shekhar: आपसे उन्होंने क्या Line बोली है? PayTM is Looted ?

Reporter:Ya .. and .. this should be...yes thats the exact they said..

Vijay Shekhar: I mean.. if i can tag the call with P____.. or you can know..or you can call P____ if you want to.. he says No..We will talk to them and we are trying to .. another way of trying to ask..is it in your (hackers') plan of cue of things? वो कह रहा है की मैं आगे की बात मैं पूछ भी लेता हूँ extra .. so ऐसा तो नहीं है.. मतलब.. यह तो मतलब.. बड़ा अजीब सा है ! उनको (P___) को तो उन्होंने (Hackers ) ने मना किया है !

Reporter: अब मैं क्या बताऊ विजय ! You know that they are claiming that they are on drugs ..i mean thats why I am calling you right? Its not like that I think ... they are saying... this to..

Vijay Shekhar: No No No No No

I will tell you what.. I will tell you what..I understand..

Reporter: हाँ हाँ

Vijay Shekhar: What I can do is.. देखों आप को भी मालूम है की देश में ना Panic सा लगा रखा है... कुछ भी ऐसा काम

And we are right now at the midst of being the core platform that Our Prime Minister is running! Correct?

Reporter: Ya

Vijay Shekhar: . So effectively writing anything about us which is not corroborated..is actually taking a pot shot !

Reporter: Yes, thats why I am calling you..so I have your version as well..

Vijay Shekhar: I get that .. and I also want to tell you

Reporter: हाँ

Vijay Shekhar: हमने अपने systems देखें हैं... उसमे कोई भी.. कहते है न 'irrational behaviour', 'traffic', कुछ ऐसे चीज़े होते है जब आप यह कहते हो.. की ओह हो... This is the time when actually we were facing the attack.. this is the time when we were .. वो हमारी टीम अभी तक figure ही out नहीं कर पाई है !

Can I tell you one thing?

आप ना एक काम करो... I don't think so that its something to be very proud of "की मैंने पहली बार छापा" .. This they are telling.. and they will tell to everyone else also..

Reporter: Ya

Vijay Shekhar: They can tweet tomorrow.. and they can do it very publically..

Reporter: Hmm

Vijay Shekhar: May I just request that you hold it tomorrow.. if anything is happening tomorrow.. we will get to know..because they will be calling to someone else also..and this is not something to ..

Reporter: You will have to speak to my editor about this.. I can't.. take this call now that is the problem

Vijay Shekhar: I know.. I get it.. आप मेरे को अपने editor का... क्या ____ बात करना चाहिए या किससे बात करना चाहिए?

Reporter: अभी तो आप ___ से बात करलो

Vijay Shekhar: OK आप मेरे को उसका नंबर दो..

The above text is taken from a press release, and has not been edited.