Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 7: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused PM Narendra Modi of helping Gautam Adani’s business empire across sectors by changing business rules so that industrialist Gautam Adani could reap benefits.
Rahul Gandhi today launched a scathing attack in parliament on Prime Minister Narendra Modi linked to billionaire Gautam Adani, whose companies are in the spotlight after US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research alleged stocks manipulation and accounting fraud by the group. The Congress leader also displayed a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Gautam Adani on the industrialist’s plane to highlight their alleged proximity.
The Congress leader, who recently completed a 3,500-km Bharat Jodo Yatra, accused PM Modi of helping Adani’s business empire across sectors, prompting emphatic rebuttals from the ruling BJP, which called his allegations wild and reckless.
“Adani ji never fails in any business he ventures into – solar energy, wind energy. During my yatra people asked me how Adani attained such success in so many sectors, what is his relationship with the Prime Minister,” Gandhi said in Lok Sabha, alleging that the businessman had gained contracts in the countries that PM Modi had visited.
Notably, the Congress leader said the businessman grew from 600th to second rank when the BJP came to power in 2014.
“People asked me how Adani’s net worth increased from $8 billion to $140 billion between 2014 and 2022. From Tamil Nadu and Kerala to Himachal Pradesh, we have been hearing one name, everywhere – ‘Adani’. Across the entire country, it’s just Adani, Adani, Adani,” Gandhi said.
Earlier PM Modi used to travel in Adani's aircraft now Adani travels in Modiji's aircraft. This matter was earlier of Gujarat, then became of India and now has become international. How much money did Adani give to BJP in last 20 yrs & through electoral bonds?: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/iXCHKxGiit
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2023
Taking a bash at PM Modi and Adani’s relationship, Gandhi added, “PM Modi goes to Australia and by magic, SBI gives a $1 billion loan to Adani. Then he goes to Bangladesh and then the Bangladesh Power development board signs a 25-years contract with Adani.”
Hitting back at the Congress leader, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “Do not level wild allegations, give proof. You are now a senior MP. You should speak with responsibility. We expect you to be serious in parliament. You can say whatever you want outside”.
Gandhi also alleged that rules were changed so the Adani group could bag six airport contracts.
BJP MPs shouted that Congress had handed airport contracts to GVK group and Dalmiya. They also remarked that Gandhi should talk about ‘Ashok Gehlot-Adani ties’ – referring to Adani pledging Rs 65,000 crore at an ‘Invest Rajasthan Summit’ in the Congress-ruled state last year.
Opposition parties allege that the recent meltdown in Adani group shares involves public money as public sector companies LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) and SBI (State Bank of India) have invested in them.
Since the controversy, both houses of parliament have been disrupted repeatedly because of protests linked to the Hindenburg-Adani row.
