Opposition seeks JPC probe into Adani Group issue
Parliamentary proceedings were washed out amid noisy protests by the Congress-led opposition, which sought a discussion over research group Hindenburg’s report on the Adani Group
Parliamentary proceedings on Thursday were washed out amid noisy protests by the Congressled opposition, which sought a discussion over research group Hindenburg’s report on the Adani Group.
As political temperatures soared over the mater, leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge led a demand by the opposition parties, seeking a probe by a joint parliamentary commitee (JPC) or by a team under the Chief Justice of India’s supervision into the research group’s report.
Both the Houses were adjourned within minutes of assembling at 11am amid noisy protests by the opposition members.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2pm.
As soon as the Lok Sabha reconvened at 2pm ater its proceedings were earlier adjourned at 11.05am over the same issue, the opposition members from the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Let and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray group) stormed into the Well of the House, seeking a discussion on the Adani group issue.
Members from the Samajwadi Party, NCP, JD(U) and Bharat Rashtra Samithi stood near their seats in support of the protesting members.
Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the chair, asked the members to return to their seats, saying that they would be given a chance to speak.
As noisy protests by the opposition members continued, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi urged the opposition members to allow the motion of thanks on the President’s address to commence.
“Parliament is for discussion, therefore the first priority is always to allow the motion of thanks on the President’s address. Kindly don’t set a wrong precedent,” Joshi could be heard saying amid the ruckus.
As protests continued, Rajendra Agrawal adjourned the House till Friday.
Soon ater, the Rajya Sabha, which too had earlier been adjourned till 2pm, was also adjourned for the day amid protests by the opposition members on Adani issue.
Earlier in the morning, as soon as the Lok Sabha had convened for the day, the opposition members rushed to the Well raising slogans, seeking a discussion on Adani and the Hindenburg report.
Speaker Om Birla had just welcomed a parliamentary delegation from Zambia and started the Question Hour, when the ruckus began.
Birla objected to the noisy scenes and asked the members not to make unsubstantiated claims. As the slogan shouting continued, he adjourned the proceedings till 2pm.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, tweeted, “Both Houses of Parliament adjourned today till 2pm because Govt did not agree to combined opposition demand for an investigation into forced investments by LIC, SBI & other public institutions that have lost huge value in recent days endangering savings of crores of Indians.”
Meanwhile, Adani, in a rare address to shareholders, said his flagship firm withdrew its $2.5 billion share sale to insulate investors from potential losses.
He said the board felt it would not be “morally correct” to proceed with the follow-on public offering (FPO).
“Ater a fully subscribed FPO, yesterday’s decision of its withdrawal would have surprised many.
“But considering the volatility of the market seen yesterday, our board strongly felt that it wouldn’t have been morally correct to proceed with the FPO,” Adani said.
“For me, the interest of my investors is paramount and everything is secondary. Hence to insulate investors from potential losses we have withdrawn the FPO,” he added, insisting that the decision will not have an impact on the group’s existing operations and future plans.
“This central government takes Rs1,000 from our pocket and gives back Rs200 to show that we are being donated,” Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary on Thursday said.
He added that the Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp)-led Centre boasts ater giving “pennies” to citizens.