Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, alleging his complicity in corruption involving industrialist Gautam Adani.
The Leader of the Opposition called for Adani's immediate arrest following a United States indictment accusing the businessman and his nephew of bribing Indian government officials to secure solar power contracts worth ₹2,029 crore.
Speaking at a press conference, Gandhi asserted that Adani had flouted both Indian and American laws but continued to remain untouched due to the protection afforded by PM Modi.
“It is now pretty clear and established that Adani has broken both Indian law and American law. I am wondering why Adani is running around as a free man in this country. It is a vindication of what we have been saying. The PM is protecting Adani and the PM is involved in corruption with Adani," he stated.
The indictment by US prosecutors alleges that between 2020 and 2024, Adani’s nephew facilitated bribes to officials across four Indian states and one Union Territory, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Gandhi demanded that the investigation into these allegations be conducted without bias, covering all states irrespective of which party governs them.
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JPC Probe Demanded
Reiterating his long-standing demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani Group’s transactions, Gandhi said, “It is my responsibility as LoP to raise this issue.
This man has acquired India's assets through corruption. He provides support to the BJP, and it is established. JPC is our demand, but we want Adani to be arrested.”
The Congress party has repeatedly accused the Prime Minister of having close ties with Adani, leveraging these allegations to attack the BJP at election rallies.
Gandhi indicated that he would escalate the issue during the upcoming Winter session of Parliament, maintaining that holding the government accountable was part of his duty.
Political Fallout Expected
The accusations come at a critical time as the BJP and Congress gear up for several state elections and the Lok Sabha polls next year. Gandhi's comments are likely to intensify the political discourse, with the opposition aiming to highlight alleged corruption within the ruling dispensation.
Neither the Adani Group nor the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has issued an official response to the allegations so far.
As the US indictment and Gandhi's claims add fuel to the debate, the matter is expected to dominate the political narrative in the coming weeks. Whether the Congress can sustain the momentum remains to be seen, but the demand for accountability has certainly set the stage for fierce parliamentary discussions.
Source: With inputs from Indian media