'Why silent?': PM Modi attacks Rahul Gandhi on 'Adani-Ambani' charge
Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday why he had "stopped talking about Ambani and Adani all of a sudden," insinuating that a "secret deal" may have been reached. Addressing a rally in Congress-ruled Telangana, PM Modi said that "Shehzada of Congress (Gandhi) had been saying the same thing for last 5 years. After his Rafale charge grounded, he started taking Ambani-Adani's name." However, after the polls were announced, he stopped attacking them, the PM added.
Why does this story matter?
In 2019, Gandhi alleged that the "trail of corruption" in the Rafale fighter jet deal "begins and ends with" PM Modi. He also alleged "destruction of evidence" and "obvious cover-up" after the government told the Supreme Court that crucial files pertaining to the deal were "stolen." However, the apex court later dismissed all review petitions in the Rafale deal case. After the Rafale case, Gandhi accused PM Modi and his government of favoring industrialists' interests over those of marginalized groups.
PM Modi challenges Gandhi's sudden silence
"Today, I want to ask from Telangana soil, he must declare how much money they have taken from Ambani, Adani? Was there a deal? Why did you stop abusing Ambani and Adani overnight?" the prime minister asked. "Zaroor daal mein kucchh kaala hai (something is wrong). You abused them for five years and then it stopped overnight?" he added. He also accused the Congress of undermining India's potential and ruining its economy, particularly in the agriculture and textile sectors.
PM Modi accuses Congress of prioritizing family over nation
PM Modi further claimed that the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) had leased Hyderabad to Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM. He criticized the two parties for prioritizing family interests over national interests, while the BJP upholds a "nation first" principle. He claimed that despite the BRS frequently accusing the Congress of cash-for-votes schemes, it did not launch any investigations when it held power. He alleged both parties are linked by corruption, appeasement politics, and ineffective governance.
Modi made 22 billionaires in his 10-year tenure: Gandhi
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Gandhi brought up the industrialists' charge, alleging that PM Modi wanted to hand over "Jal, Jungle, Jameen" (water, forest, land) belonging to tribals to industrialists. "PM wants to handover tribals' 'Jal, Jungle, Jameen' to 14-15 industrialists...he made 22 people billionaires in his 10-year tenure...We will make crores of lakhpatis if voted to power," he said. Notably, Telangana signed several MoUs with the Adani Group, totaling an investment of ₹ 12,400 crore across various sectors in January.
