NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The Indian parliament witnessed chaos on Thursday as opposition lawmakers demanded a discussion on allegations against the Adani Group, leading to the suspension of both houses for the third consecutive day this week.
The U.S. authorities have accused Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and Adani Green’s managing director, Vneet S. Jaain, of involvement in a bribery scheme worth $265 million to secure solar power contracts in India. They are also alleged to have misled U.S. investors during fundraising activities.
“We are demanding a response from the prime minister on the Adani issue for the third day in a row. We want a thorough discussion on this matter in parliament,” said Manickam Tagore, a Congress party lawmaker leading the protests against the business group.
Several opposition parties in India accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of favoritism towards Adani and obstructing investigations against him, claims that both have refuted.
Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress party, called for the arrest of Gautam Adani, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations.
While the government has remained silent on the allegations, the BJP has stated that it has no obligation to defend Adani. The party reiterated its support for industrialists as partners in nation-building efforts and emphasized that everyone must face the law.
“Let him defend himself,” said BJP spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal, underscoring the party’s stance on the matter.