whose ₹20,000 crores went to Adani’s shell companies: Ajay Maken

Democracy Disqualified :AICC Leader

JAMMU, March 28 :  Former Union Minister and Senior AICC Leader AjayMaken, today said that it is not only Rahul Gandhi, who has been  disqualified but in fact democracy has been disqualified, while   charging that “This whole drama has been orchestrated to defend the Prime Minister from the simple question  whose ₹20,000 crores went to Adani’s shell companies.

Addressing a Press Conference here today at PCC HQ, Jammu,  the   Former Union Minister said that the entire  episode  on Rahul Gandhi is a  counter attack  to defend  the Prime Minister  from  answering the simple question –   “whose ₹20,000 crores went to Adani’s shell companies” and questing the relationship between Adani and Prime Minister Modi  raised in the Lok Sabha by Gandhi on February 7, this year.  राह� ल गां धी तो बहाना है-असल मेंमोदानी को बचाना है Ø, he added.

Reiterating the Congress demand that JPC be constituted to inquire Modani Scam, Maken said,  Congress fight is  for the restoration of Democracy, for protecting interests of Small Investors, LIC policy holders, and EPFO depositors, against the selling of National Assets to Monopolies at throwaway prices, against compromising on strategic defence matters.

He referred to the sequences of events leading to the disqualification issue to substantiate  his charge against BJP. He explained  that on  Apr 13th 2019 Rahul Gandhi makes election speech in Kolar, Karnataka, on  Apr 16th 2019 BJP MLA files complaint in Surat, Gujarat, on  Mar 7th 2022 the complainant seeks a stay from Gujarat HC on his own complaint; the HC grants a stay. ‘ On  Feb 7th 2023,  Rahul Gandhi makes a speech questioning the relationship between Adani and PM Modi in Lok Sabha.  On Feb 16th 2023 the complainant withdraws his own request for a stay in the Gujarat HC.  On Feb 27th 2023 hearings resume in the trial court, On Mar 23rd 2023 the trial court convicts Rahul Gandhi and handed down the maximum sentence of 2 years, On Mar 24th 2023 Lok Sabha secretariat disqualifies Rahul Gandhi within 24 hours.

A BJP MLA revived the case just 9 days after Rahul Gandhi’s Adani speech in Parliament. Rahul Ji and Kharge ji’s speeches in Parliament were expunged, and the BJP deliberately disrupted Parliament to avoid further discussion on Adani or on demand for a JPC. • Rahul Gandhi was attacked by BJP Ministers and denied an opportunity to speak in Parliament despite three requests to the Speaker, including a written request. This clearly shows that Modi doesn’t want his relationship with Adani to be further exposed, he alleged,   asking  Why is Modi Government scared of JPC?

He reminded that in 1992, a JPC was set up to look into the Harshad Mehta case while in 2001, a JPC investigated the Ketan Parekh case. Both PM Narasimha Rao and PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had the confidence and trust in elected representatives to investigate scams that affected crores of Indian investors. What is PM Modi afraid of? Is there any hope of a fair and impartial investigation under him, he questioned.

On March 22nd, the Financial Times reported that “more than half of FDI into Gautam Adani’s conglomerate in recent years came from offshore entities linked to his family”. Per the FT, this amounts to about $2.8bn, or about 23,000 crore. Whose money was this? It cannot be Adani’s, he doubted, posing questions.

 He alleged that this is part of BJP’s long-term plan to silence anyone who questions them. Opposition leaders, activists, journalists are targeted using ED, CBI, false UAPA cases, cases filed in far away places. The message is – if you question our wrongdoings, we will target you. At the same time, all cases disappear if you join the BJP’s washing machine.  The government’s actions are driven by their fear of their misdeeds being exposed, and the desire to divert public attention at any cost, he added.

Why is the BJP protecting fraudsters? Ø Congress fights for small investors, for 30 crores LIC policyholders, for EPFO depositors. The value of Adani Group stock crashed by ₹10,50,000 crore between 24th January and 15th February 2023. On 19th July 2021, the Ministry of Finance admitted in Parliament that the Adani Group was under investigation for violating SEBI regulations. Yet Adani Group stock prices were allowed to spiral. The value of Adani Group stocks held by LIC fell from ₹83,000 crores on 30th December 2022 to ₹39,000 crores on 15th February 2023, an erosion of ₹44,000 crores in the equity holdings of 30 crore LIC policyholders.

 He said that despite the fall in share prices and serious allegations of wrongdoing by the Group, the Modi government compelled LIC to invest an additional ₹300 crore in the Adani Enterprise’s follow-on public offer on 30th January 2023.  The controversial inclusion of Adani Enterprises in the NSE Nifty 50 index forced Nifty index funds, including India’s largest pension fund body EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation), to make significant purchases of this risky stock.

Recently, global stock indices have suspended Adani Group companies, but the NSE has failed to take any similar action to protect investors. Ø Rahul Gandhi Ji will always raise his voice against corruption, unemployment and inflation. He would always stand for farmers, Dalits and other marginalized section of society, he said.

 He explained that ever since Rahul Gandhi has been in politics, he has been raising the voice of farmers, by helping bring the 2013 Land Acquisition law. The farmer was protected. When PM Modi tried to amend the same Land Acquisition Act, Rahul Gandhi stood up for the farmers and stopped him from doing so. Who is the farmer of this country? Rahul Gandhi stood up for the jal, jangal and zameen of tribals in Niyamgiri. Every tribal of Odisha and of the country knows that Rahul ji protected their rights of water, forest and land.

He asserted that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress will not get scared. During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, we went directly to the people and heard their concerns – inflation, unemployment, social polarisation, and the capture of institutions to benefit Adani and a few other crony capitalists. We will continue to raise these issues of the people, and continue to send our message directly to the people.

 He reminded the people that the British used to punish Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad either with sedition or jail sentences. The Congress eventually won against the British. Now, the Modi government is targeting Rahul Gandhi for exposing thieves and scamsters. The Congress will win again, he  exuded.

Makin said that  Kauravas also had a lot of power, money, army but did not have truth. Truth is not with you today. The public is not with you. This injustice of yours, your arrogance has closed your eyes. Today the people of the country are seeing this. The entire opposition of the country is watching this. Today the entire opposition of the country is opposing the dictatorship of Modi. It is my request to each and every party of the opposition that BJP and Modi are killing democracy. If democracy survives then only the country will survive. We have to come forward, come together to stop corruption and loot in India, to save democracy.

Maken also referred to various Legal aspects to explain  his  point of view. He said that criminal defamation complaints should be filed by the person against whom the remarks were made, who should also prove how they were injured personally. In this case, the persons who were named did not file the case, and the person who filed the case was not named. • Rhetorical remarks in a speech made in Kolar, Karnataka have been tried in Surat. Section 202 of CrPC mandates a preliminary inquiry by Magistrate to satisfy himself that he has jurisdiction to proceed. There has not been any such inquiry as mandated by law. • Malicious intent is essential to defame someone. The speech was made in Kolar rally while addressing the public on price rise and unemployment. The agenda was not to defame anyone but to raise issue of public corruption and the welfare of the public.

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)