New Delhi, Dec 5: In an unusual protest, leaders of some INDIA bloc parties on Thursday wore black jackets with stickers reading “Modi Adani Ek Hai” and “Adani Safe Hai” on those and raised slogans on the Parliament premises to demand a joint parliamentary probe into the Adani issue.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who put the sticker on his trademark white T-shirt, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot order an investigation against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani as it would amount to announcing a probe against himself.
Congress MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and lawmakers from several other opposition parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Left, participated in the protest. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Samajwadi Party (SP), however, did not participate in the agitation, in what the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described as “divisions” in the opposition bloc.
Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi demanded that a discussion on Adani’s indictment in a US court on bribery and fraud charges must take place in Parliament and the prime minister must speak on the issue in the House. The protest took place in front of the steps of Parliament’s Makar Dwar and not on the steps leading to it as an advisory issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat and Speaker Om Birla had flagged the issue.
A little later, the protesting MPs lined up in front of the Samvidhan Sadan and raised slogans against Modi and Adani.
“Modiji cannot order an investigation against Adaniji because if he does so, it will mean his own investigation. Modi and Adani are one,” Rahul Gandhi said during the protest.
Congress leader K C Venugopal said, “The entire wealth of this country is going to only one man. That man is actually in total corruption. An American court has given a summons to him and said corruption happened in India. However, Parliament is not ready to discuss (the matter).”
LS Speaker cautions members against wearing badges
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday urged members not to sport lapel pins and badges other than the national tricolour in Parliament. The Speaker’s remarks came as several Congress members were seen wearing stickers reading “Modi Adani Ek Hai” and “Adani Safe Hai” on the jackets and shirts.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was also seen sporting the sticker on his trademark white T-shirt.
Birla pointed out that Rule 349 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha states that a member shall not wear to display badges of any kind in the House, except the National Flag in the form of a lapel pin or a badge. He urged the members to follow the parliamentary rules and conventions and ensure that the “dignity of the House is not compromised.” (PTI)
