EaseMyTrip Founder Claims MakeMyTrip Has ‘Deep-Rooted’ Chinese Influence
EaseMyTrip co-founder Nishant Pitti is making serious accusations against his rival, MakeMyTrip, alleging deep ties to China and raising concerns about national security.
Chinese Connections?
Pitti claims that a significant portion of MakeMyTrip’s board of directors has direct links to China, including appointments made by Trip.com, a company with Chinese ownership. He specifically pointed out that five out of ten board members have ties to China, and three of the four most strategic committees are either led or heavily influenced by individuals with Chinese affiliations.
“Half of MakeMyTrip’s board – 5 out of 10 directors have direct ties to China, including pivotal appointments by Trip.com, a company with Chinese ownership. 3 of the 4 most strategic board committees are either led or significantly influenced by directors with clear Chinese affiliations, giving them disproportionate sway over critical decisions,”
He also shared screenshots of MakeMyTrip’s investor page, seemingly showing individuals connected to Trip.com on the board, including Chairman and co-founder James Jianzhang Liang and COO Xing Xiong.
National Security Concerns
Pitti’s allegations go beyond board composition. He argues that MakeMyTrip poses a national security risk because Indian armed forces personnel use the platform to book discounted flights. He expresses concern that this practice could expose sensitive military information to potential adversaries.
“Indian Armed Forces book discounted tickets via a platform majorly owned by China, entering Defence ID, route & date. Our enemies know where our soldiers are flying. Attaching screenshots exposing this loophole – it must be patched now,”
MakeMyTrip Responds
MakeMyTrip has strongly denied Pitti’s accusations, calling them “motivated” and “malicious.” They emphasize that they are a proud Indian company, founded and headquartered in India, with a track record of serving millions of Indian travelers for over 25 years.
MakeMyTrip also stated that they do not engage in discussions about unfounded accusations and remain committed to providing excellent services to their customers.
