The Congress party faced severe criticism from the BJP and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) following a meeting between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Karan Adani, the Managing Director of Adani Ports & SEZ and son of Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani. The political controversy surrounding this interaction prompted accusations of double standards from the BJP, demanding an apology from the Congress to the people of both the country and the state.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi expressed his displeasure, stating that while it is within a Chief Minister's rights to seek investments, the Congress, by associating one individual's name with the government, obstructed the functioning of Parliament for a month. Joshi referred to the Opposition MPs' protests during the Budget Session last year, where they sought an investigation into allegations against the Adani Group by the US short-seller firm Hindenburg. The Adani issue frequently led to disruptions in both Houses of Parliament.
Joshi's remarks followed a meeting between Karan Adani and Revanth Reddy on January 3 in Hyderabad, during which discussions about potential investments in the state took place. Reddy assured the Adani Group representatives of facilities and subsidies for new industries, emphasizing the importance of industrial development and job creation.
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also criticized the Congress, suggesting that the party issue a clarification regarding the apparent inconsistency in its stance. The BRS pointed out that while Rahul Gandhi uses the Adani issue to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Revanth Reddy, a Congress member, is engaging with Adani's son.
BRS Spokesperson Dasoju Sravan highlighted a perceived nexus between Adani and Revanth Reddy, urging the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to clarify the situation. Sravan characterized Reddy's actions as dubious, emphasizing the need for consistency within the party's leadership.
In response, Telangana IT and Industries Minister Sridhar Babu asserted that the state government prioritizes its interests and supports the progress and development of the state. He emphasized providing a democratic space for every entrepreneur and refuted any objections or disruptions in Parliament from the Telangana government. Sridhar Babu also addressed Rahul Gandhi's statements, stating that they were directed against the resources or revenue of a specific organization.
On the same day as the Reddy-Adani meeting, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) probe into the Adani-Hindenburg case, asserting that there were no grounds to transfer the investigation from SEBI to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
