Editor's Pick: Rahul Gandhi questions PM’s links with Adani

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain his “relationship” with businessman Gautam Adani as he alleged that government policies are “tailor-made” to favour the Adani group. Participating in the Motion of Thanks to the President for her Address to Parliament, Mr. Gandhi said “magic” had happened after Mr. Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, with Mr. Adani seeing a meteoric rise from the 609th position in the global billionaire’s list to becoming the world’s second richest person. He asked how much money the ruling BJP received from the conglomerate through electoral bonds over the past 20 years. Citing examples of the Adani group signing business deals with countries such as Israel, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka among others, the Congress leader alleged that “India’s foreign policy is Adani foreign policy”. He claimed that the relationship between Mr. Adani and Mr. Modi started when the latter was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. “Then the real magic starts, when the PM comes to Delhi. In 2014, he was in 609th spot on the list of richest people and climbed to the second spot,” he said. In response, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asked the Congress leader not to make “wild allegations” without proof. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also urged the former Congress chief not to display two photographs, one that showed Mr. Modi with Mr. Adani inside a plane, and another showing Mr. Modi getting down from a plane that sported the Adani logo. Meanwhile, the Opposition used the debate to seek a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into allegations against the Adani group in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Congress MP Digvijaya Singh said the Amrit Kaal mentioned in the President’s speech was just for 21 people in the country whose personal wealth was equal to the collective wealth of 70 crore poor people. DMK’s Tiruchi Siva said a JPC was a process of democracy which should be used to probe the Hindenburg report on Adani, claiming that the report had impacted India morally and economically. TMC’s Derek O’Brien said the Centre consistently weakened institutions and used investigating agencies against Opposition leaders. The Hindu’s Editorials Open season: On Meghalaya polls and changing loyalties of politicians A quick reset: On India’s G-20 presidency The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz A major earthquake struck which two countries on February 7 killing more than 2,600 people? Turkey, Syria Israel, Palestine Iran, Iraq Pakistan, Afghanistan To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 08 FEBRUARY 2023 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Rahul Gandhi questions PM’s links with Adani Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to [explain his “relationship” with businessman Gautam Adani]( he alleged that government policies are “tailor-made” to favour the Adani group. Participating in the Motion of Thanks to the President for her Address to Parliament, Mr. Gandhi said “magic” had happened after Mr. Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, with Mr. Adani seeing a meteoric rise from the 609th position in the global billionaire’s list to becoming the world’s second richest person. He asked how much money the ruling BJP received from the conglomerate through electoral bonds over the past 20 years. Citing examples of the Adani group signing business deals with countries such as Israel, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka among others, the Congress leader [alleged that “India’s foreign policy is Adani foreign policy”](. He claimed that the relationship between Mr. Adani and Mr. Modi started when the latter was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. “Then the real magic starts, when the PM comes to Delhi. In 2014, he was in 609th spot on the list of richest people and climbed to the second spot,” he said. In response, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asked the Congress leader not to make “wild allegations” without proof. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also urged the former Congress chief not to display two photographs, one that showed Mr. Modi with Mr. Adani inside a plane, and another showing Mr. Modi getting down from a plane that sported the Adani logo. Meanwhile, the Opposition used the debate to [seek a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe]( into allegations against the Adani group in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Congress MP Digvijaya Singh said the Amrit Kaal mentioned in the President’s speech was just for 21 people in the country whose personal wealth was equal to the collective wealth of 70 crore poor people. DMK’s Tiruchi Siva said a JPC was a process of democracy which should be used to probe the Hindenburg report on Adani, claiming that [the report had impacted India morally and economically.]( Derek O’Brien said the Centre consistently weakened institutions and used investigating agencies against Opposition leaders. The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Open season: On Meghalaya polls and changing loyalties of politicians]( [Arrow][A quick reset: On India’s G-20 presidency]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz A major earthquake struck which two countries on February 7 killing more than 2,600 people? - Turkey, Syria - Israel, Palestine - Iran, Iraq - Pakistan, Afghanistan To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here](. Are you a book lover looking for your next literary adventure? Look no further than “The Hindu On Books” weekly newsletter! We scour the shelves to bring you the best new releases and hidden gems in all genres. With in-depth book reviews and recommendations, you can trust that you will find your next literary love here. Sign up now and discover your next favorite book!" 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