Mounting pressure on the Narendra Modi Government over the alleged Adani Group expose that has also stalled the functioning of Parliament, the Congress on Sunday said that it will pose three questions daily to the Prime Minister pertaining to the financial crisis until he comes out with an explanation.
The Congress is also set to launch nationwide protests against the ongoing Adani issue in front of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) offices and State Bank of India (SBI) branches on Monday. In Delhi, the protests will be held by NSUI-Youth Congress outside the banks located at Parliament police station, while party MPs will protest near the Gandhi statue inside Parliament, reported news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Grand Old Party also took a swipe at Modi saying after the Panama Papers’ leak no action was taken despite assurances from the Prime Minister, hence it wondered what fate this Hindenburg Research expose would meet at the hands of the Prime Minister and his team.
The Congress also sought to know whether Modi will direct the Central probe agencies against Adani and alleged that he has been using agencies like the ED, CBI and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for political interests and had also tightened the noose on industrialists and the business community
"Amid the allegations against the Adani Group, the Modi Government has maintained a loud silence which smacks of collusion. Starting today, the Congress Party will pose three questions a day to the Prime Minister," Congress chief spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said.
Raising a question before the Prime Minister, Ramesh alleged, "In response to the Panama Papers expose on April 4, 2016, the Ministry of Finance announced that you had personally directed a multi-agency investigative group to monitor financial flows to and from offshore tax havens."
Subsequently, at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China on 5 September 2016, you (PM Modi) stated: 'We need to act to eliminate safe havens for economic offenders, track down and unconditionally extradite money launderers and break down the web of complex international regulations and excessive banking secrecy that hide the corrupt and their deeds," Ramesh mentioned in a Press statement.
"This leads to some questions that you and your government cannot hide from saying "HAHK (Hum Adani Ke Hain Kaun)," attacked the former Union Minister.
"Vinod Adani, the brother of Gautam Adani was named in the Panama Papers and the Pandora Papers as someone who operates offshore entities in the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands. He is alleged to have engaged in 'brazen stock manipulation' and 'accounting fraud' via 'a vast labyrinth of offshore shell entities'. You have spoken often about your sincerity and 'niyat' in fighting corruption and even subjected the nation to the heavy costs of demonetisation," said Congress.
"What does the fact that a business entity you are well acquainted with faces serious allegations tell us about the quality and sincerity of your investigations?" he asked.
Jairam Ramesh further said, "
Over the years you have misused agencies like the ED, CBI and DRI to intimidate your political opponents and to punish business houses that do not fall in line with your cronies' financial interests.
"What action has been taken, if ever, to investigate the serious allegations made over the years against the Adani Group? Is there any hope of a fair and impartial investigation under you?" he said.
"How is it possible that one of India's largest business groups, one that has been allowed to build monopolies in airports and seaports, could have escaped serious scrutiny for so long despite persistent allegations? Other business groups have been harassed and raided for much less.
Was the Adani Group essential to a dispensation that has profited from 'anti-corruption' rhetoric all of these years?" he asked.