Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Speculation of a rift within the INDIA bloc emerged as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Samajwadi Party abstained from a protest led by Congress and other opposition parties over allegations of bribery against Gautam Adani. The protest, held in the Parliament complex on Wednesday, saw opposition MPs donning jackets reading “Modi-Adani Ek Hai, Adani Safe Hai.”
TMC MP Kirti Azad clarified his party’s absence, stating, “On the floor of the House, we have the same strategy, but at the same time, we have other issues to highlight.” Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav echoed a similar sentiment, insisting, “We are together,” while downplaying their absence from the protest.
Opposition’s Demands
Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the allegations against Adani. Rahul Gandhi reiterated his claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was shielding Adani, stating, “PM Modi can’t get Adani investigated because if he does, he would be investigating himself. Modi and Adani are one.”
Priyanka Gandhi called for a parliamentary discussion on the matter and urged Prime Minister Modi to issue a statement addressing the allegations.
Trinamool’s Focus on Other Issues
While maintaining their commitment to the INDIA bloc’s broader strategy in Parliament, the Trinamool Congress emphasized its focus on issues such as price rise, unemployment, and deprivation of funds to opposition-led states.
Allegations Against Adani
The protests follow US prosecutors’ allegations that Adani promised bribes to Indian officials to secure solar power contracts between 2020 and 2024. The Adani Group has dismissed the accusations as “baseless.”
Disrupted Parliamentary Proceedings
The ongoing protests over the Adani issue and the recent Sambhal violence have brought Parliament to a standstill since last week, with opposition parties united in seeking answers.
