The BJP said the states that allegedly received bribes from the Adani Group for solar power deals, as mentioned in the US indictment, were ruled by the Opposition. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra attacked Rahul Gandhi for attempting to tarnish the Prime Minister’s image after the Congress MP alleged that Narendra Modi was hand in glove with Gautam Adani in corrupt activities.
“None of the four states mentioned in US charges against Adani Group had a BJP CM. Congress and its allies were in power in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu,” Patra said.
US prosecutors said the Adani Group paid $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure contracts with state electricity distribution companies between 2021-2023. The Adani Group has, however, called the allegations baseless.
The states named in the US indictment are Odisha (then ruled by Naveen Patnaik’s BJD), Tamil Nadu (under DMK), Chhattisgarh (under Congress), and Jammu and Kashmir (under Central rule). Andhra Pradesh was then helmed by Jagan Reddy’s YSR Congress.
MOTHER-SON DUO OUT ON BAIL: BJP ATTACKS RAHUL GANDHI
Taking potshots at Rahul Gandhi, Patra said it was the Leader of the Opposition’s usual tactic to attack India and structures that defend the country.
“Rahul Gandhi had raked up the Rafale issue in 2019 in a similar fashion. He had claimed that a big revelation would be made. During the Covid pandemic, he used to do press conferences in a similar fashion over vaccine. However, he had to apologise before the Supreme Court later,” the Puri MP said.
On Rahul Gandhi’s assertion that the Congress was doing the “work of the judiciary”, Patra emphasised that both the Congress MP and Sonia Gandhi were out on bail in the National Herald case.
“Rahul Gandhi, in his press conference, said that the Congress party is doing the work of the judiciary too. The mother-son duo is out on bail, and they are doing the work of the judiciary! Half of them are out on bail, and they are doing the work of the judiciary!” Patra further said.