Both Houses of Parliament were paralysed on Wednesday as the Opposition demanded a debate over recent allegations against the Adani Group. The Winter Session’s third day was marred by protests, adjournments, and a complete washout. Opposition parties called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into what they termed the “Modani scam,” alleging its far-reaching global implications.
The uproar followed the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing criminal indictments and civil complaints against Adani Group executives. These documents accused the conglomerate of bribery and obstruction of justice. While the Adani Group dismissed these allegations as baseless, the controversy has fueled heated exchanges in the Indian Parliament.
Legal Experts Defend Adani
Outside the House, legal experts and lawmakers associated with the ruling party provided counterarguments. Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi clarified that neither Gautam Adani nor his nephew, Sagar Adani, were named in the US charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani labelled the charges as a “hatchet job,” citing insufficient evidence and a purported bias against India’s current government by the “Democratic deep state” in the US.
Rohatgi emphasised that the allegations primarily involve other individuals and argued that the Adanis have not been implicated in counts related to FCPA violations or obstruction of justice.
Opposition Unrelenting in Their Demands
Inside the Lok Sabha, Opposition MPs attempted to move adjournment motions to discuss the Adani allegations and other issues, such as recent communal violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district. Speaker Om Birla’s repeated appeals for maintaining order were ignored, forcing him to adjourn the session until noon and later for the entire day.
Similarly, in the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected 18 adjournment motions seeking discussions on various topics, including the alleged financial misconduct of the Adani Group. Dhankhar stressed that disorder in the House cannot justify raising points of order, a remark met with resistance from Congress MPs.
Congress and Allies Intensify Attack
Leading the Opposition charge, Rahul Gandhi argued that the government was shielding Gautam Adani despite serious allegations. “Adani should be in jail. The government’s protection of him is unacceptable,” Gandhi stated. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also criticised Adani, highlighting charges of bribery and obstruction of justice. She called on Indian regulatory bodies like SEBI to investigate the matter.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh reiterated the demand for a JPC investigation, accusing the government of stifling discussions on the issue. “Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned today due to the government’s stubbornness,” he posted on social media.
Session Faces Uncertain Future
The Opposition remains firm in its resolve to press for a discussion on the Adani controversy. However, the ruling party appears optimistic that the protests may lose steam next week. The Winter Session is scheduled to continue until December 20, leaving room for further debates and potential resolutions.
On Thursday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to make her parliamentary debut, adding a new dimension to the party’s strategy in the ongoing session. Whether her presence bolsters Opposition efforts remains to be seen.
The Adani controversy has added another layer of complexity to this Winter Session, underscoring the growing tensions between the government and Opposition over issues of transparency, corporate governance, and accountability.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
