‘Adani sarkar shame-shame’

Opposition shouts slogans in Parliament, seeks Modi’s response on crisis

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: Lok Sabha proceedings on Monday were adjourned for the day following protests by opposition parties demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into the allegations of fraud and stock manipulation by a short-seller against the Adani Group.

As soon as the House met after the weekend break, opposition members primarily Congress MPs came to the Well shouting slogans such as “Adani sarkar shame-shame” and demanding a probe into the tanking of the Adani Group shares and into the business practices of the corporate giant. Speaker Om Birla urged them to go back to their seats and participate in the debate.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday came down heavily on the central government amid the ongoing Hindenburg-Adani row, saying that the Central government is running away from answering over the Adani issue. Meanwhile, Congress has launched a countrywide protest in front of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) offices and State Bank of India (SBI) branches today to protest over the issue.

Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs gathered at the Gandhi statue on the Parliament premises, to stage a protest. The MPs held placards alleging “yaari” or friendship between Adani and the prime minister. They requested the government to save public sector institutions such as the State Bank of India and the Life Insurance Corporation, who have made investments in Adani Group companies.

Notably, the Opposition parties including Congress, DMK, NCP, BRS, JD(U), SP, CPM, CPI, Kerala Congress (Jose Mani), JMM, RLD, RSP, AAP, IUML, RJD and Shiv Sena also organised a meeting in LoP Mallikarjun Kharge’s chamber in Parliament to chalk out a strategy on AdaniHindenburg and other issues.

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said that the opposition will raise the Adani row in the Parliament as the government especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent on the issue.

“We will raise Adani issue in Parliament. Government is silent on such a big issue, especially PM Modi,” Kharge said. Congress Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday said that the Opposition will make a strategy for Parliament over the Adani row.

Speaking to reporters here, the Minister said, “We will have a meeting now. The entire Opposition will come together; the discussion will be done and a decision will be made. It’s not an issue of Congress only, but that of India’s common people.”

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Mahua Maji said that the Opposition is united on the issue. “Why does PM [Narendra] Modi not want to come and face this?” Maji said. “Everything is being privatised gradually, they are being shielded. You can see where the country is heading.”