WATCH | Curious case of Congress-Adani ties

Rahul Gandhi attacks Adani, but Congress governments roll out red carpet for the billionaire

NEW DELHI | Updated: 11 April, 2023 8:23 am IST

Even as Rahul Gandhi, Congress’ failed-yet-only hope against PM Narendra Modi, refuses to relent on his attacks on billionaire Gautam Adani, the party’s governments in #Rajasthan, #Chhattisgarh, and #Jharkhand continue to offer lucrative projects to the businessman’s Adani Group.

On Monday, Adani’s port-to-energy conglomerate commenced power export to #Bangladesh from its power plant in Jharkhand – a state where Congress is a ruling coalition partner. In a statement, Adani Power Limited (#APL) said it has commissioned its first 800 MW ultra-super-critical thermal power generation unit at Godda in Jharkhand and began supplying 748 MW of power to the neighbouring country.

Jharkhand is not the only Congress/UPA-ruled state which has allocated critical infrastructure projects to Adani’s companies. Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, both ruled solely by the Congress, too have rolled out the red carpet for the billionaire.

In October last year when Rahul renewed his attacks on Adani alleging a “nexus” with BJP and PM Modi, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot invited Adani to ‘Invest Rajasthan 2022’ summit and referred to him as “Adani Ji” – embarrassing his the Congress party which has accused BJP and PM Modi of favouring deals and crucial projects to him.

Speaking at the summit, Adani announced investments worth ₹65,000 crore over the next five to seven years, creating more than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs – which caused a major embarrassment to Rahul and his coterie of supporters within the party. Adani has investments across multiple industrial sectors in Rajasthan.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is considered close to the Gandhi scion, has been pushing for permission to start the second phase of mining in the PEKB coal block, despite a biodiversity report from the Wildlife Institute of India warning against it.

Adani has faced heat both in India and abroad after a damning report by US-based #HindenburgResearch in February accused the conglomerate of “pulling the largest con in corporate history” by manipulating stock prices and committing accounting fraud.

The report not only directed more scrutiny towards the Adani Group worldwide but also triggered a massive share sale, taking down his net worth by nearly half. The business group has faced accusations of wrongdoings in several infrastructure projects in India, Australia, Sri Lanka and some other countries.

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