Tag: questions

Congress poses series of questions to govt on Adani issue

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New Delhi: The Congress asked the government on Saturday if it is prudent from a national security perspective for a firm facing serious accusations of money laundering to be allowed to dominate a strategic sector like ports.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in his series of “Hum Adanike Hain Kaun” questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said these queries relate to industrialist Gautam Adani’s rapidly expanding monopoly in the ports sector.
“Even though it is a Saturday here is HAHK (Hum Adanike Hain Kaun)-7. ‘Chuppi Todiye Pradhan Mantriji’,” Ramesh wrote on Twitter.
He said the Adani Group controls 13 ports and terminals that represent 30 percent of India’s ports capacity and 40 percent of the total container volume. “It is no surprise that this growth trajectory has accelerated since 2014,” the former Union minister added.
He said in addition to the Mundra port in Gujarat, recent acquisitions of the business group include the Dhamra port in Odisha (2015), the Kattupalli port in Tamil Nadu (2018), the Krishnapatnam (2020) and Gangavaram (2021) ports in Andhra Pradesh and the Dighi port in Maharashtra (2021).
“There is a clear strategy at work: Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha account for 93 percent of the overseas cargo traffic from India’s ‘non-major ports’. Krishnapatnam and Gangavaram are the largest private ports in the south. The Adani Group has declared its goal as expanding its market share to 40 percent by 2025 and is attempting to acquire even more ports.
“Do you intend to oversee the takeover of every significant private port by your favourite business group or is there any space for other private firms that wish to invest?
“Is it prudent from a national security perspective for a firm that faces serious accusations of money laundering and round-tripping by offshore shell companies to be permitted to dominate a strategic sector like ports,” the Congress leader asked.

He alleged that as with airports, the BJP-led government has facilitated an Adani monopoly in the ports sector too, using all the means at its disposal.
Alleging that ports that enjoy government concessions have been sold to the Adani Group without any bidding, and where bidding was allowed, the competitors “miraculously vanished” from the process, Ramesh said, “Income Tax raids appear to have helped ‘convince’ the previous owner of the Krishnapatnam port to sell it to the Adani Group.
“Is it true that In 2021, the public sector Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust was bidding for the Dighi port in Maharashtra in competition with Adani but was forced to withdraw its winning bid after the ministries of shipping and finance changed their mind about supporting its bid?” he asked.
The Congress leader said generally, port concessions are negotiated with the special purpose vehicle for each port to segregate risks and protect assets, yet many of these ports are now part of a single listed entity — Adani Ports and SEZ.
“Has this transfer of assets been done in violation of the Model Concession Agreement for ports? Have the concession agreements been changed to accommodate Adani’s commercial interests?” he asked.
The Congress has been posing questions to the government on the Adani issue ever since a report of US-based short-selling firm Hindenburg Research levelled allegations of financial irregularities against the business group, leading to a meltdown of its stocks on exchanges.
The opposition party has also been demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into the issue.
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#Congress #poses #series #questions #govt #Adani #issue
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 11, 2023
Odisha minister murder: BJP questions ‘court-monitored’ probe

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Bhubaneswar: Continuing its attack on the Odisha government over murder of minister Naba Das, the BJP on Tuesday raised questions on appointment of a retired judge to monitor the Crime Branch probe into the case.
Addressing a press conference here, Odisha BJP spokesperson Pitambar Acharya said: “The BJD leaders are claiming that it is a court-monitored investigation, which is totally false. The Orissa High Court has not issued any judicial order for monitoring of the crime branch probe by a retired judge (J.P. Das).”
Acharya urged the state government to produce the request letter it had sent to Orissa High Court for the appointment of a judge/retired judge to monitor the probe and the Orissa HC order on the appointment of Justice Das.
“Which order/writ petition or judicial proceedings has allowed appointment of a retired judge to supervise the probe?” asked Acharya, who is also a senior advocate.
The appointment of Justice Das is neither a judicial proceeding nor a consultation under the Commission of Inquiry Act, he claimed and urged the state government not to misuse the name of the High Court and uphold its dignity as people have faith in the constitutional institute.
Claiming that the appointment of retired High Court judge, Justice Das is illegal, he demanded that the case should be handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for proper investigation.
As the state government and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik do not have faith in the Crime Branch investigation, they have reportedly requested the Orissa High Court to monitor the investigation, the BJP leader alleged.
Reacting to the allegation of BJP, senior BJD leader and government chief whip in Assembly Prasanta Muduli said: “The opposition has a habit of making comments on every issue. The Crime Branch is investigating the matter under the supervision of the judiciary. The society and democracy will not survive if they don’t have faith in the judiciary.”

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch recreated the crime scene by taking the accused police ASI (now dismissed) to the spot in the presence of a forensic expert. Justice Das and Odisha DGP Sunil Bansal have reached Jharsuguda to look into the status of the Crime Branch’s investigation into the sensational murder case.
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#Odisha #minister #murder #BJP #questions #courtmonitored #probe
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 7, 2023
Modi, his govt cannot hide from questions saying ‘Hum Adani Ke Hain Kaun’: Cong

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New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday stepped up its attack on the Centre over allegations against the Adani group, alleging that the Modi government’s “loud silence” over the issue “smacks of collusion”.
Adani group stocks have taken a beating on the bourses after US-based activist short-seller Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation at the Gautam Adani-led group.
In a statement, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said that starting Sunday the Congress will pose three questions a day to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue.
He said that amid the allegations against the Adani Group, the Modi government has maintained a “loud silence which smacks of collusion”.
Ramesh said that in a response to the Panama Papers expose on April 4, 2016, the Ministry of Finance had announced that Modi had personally directed a multi-agency investigative group to monitor financial flows to and from offshore tax havens.
The eloquent silence of the PM on the Adani MahaMegaScam has forced us to start a series, HAHK-Hum Adanike Hain Kaun. We will be posing 3 question to the PM daily beginning today. Here are the first three.
Chuppi Todiye Pradhan Mantriji pic.twitter.com/qUxt6eJVec
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 5, 2023
“Subsequently, at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China on 5 September 2016, you (Modi) stated: ‘We need to act to eliminate safe havens for economic offenders, track down and unconditionally extradite money launderers and break down the web of complex international regulations and excessive banking secrecy that hide the corrupt and their deeds’. This leads to some questions that you and your government cannot hide from saying ‘HAHK (Hum Adani Ke Hain Kaun)’,”
Posing questions, Ramesh said Vinod Adani, the brother of Gautam Adani, was named in the Panama Papers and the Pandora Papers as someone who operates offshore entities in the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands.
“He is alleged to have engaged in ‘brazen stock manipulation’ and ‘accounting fraud’ via ‘a vast labyrinth of offshore shell entities. You have spoken often about your sincerity and ‘niyat’ (intention) in fighting corruption and even subjected the nation to the heavy costs of demonetization,” Ramesh said.

“What does the fact that a business entity you are well acquainted with faces serious allegations tell us about the quality and sincerity of your investigations? the Congress general secretary said.
Ramesh alleged that over the years, PM Modi “misused” agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to “intimidate” his political opponents and to “punish” business houses that do not fall in line with his “cronies’ financial interests”.
What action has been taken, if ever, to investigate the serious allegations made over the years against the Adani Group, he asked?
Ramesh also asked if there was any hope of a fair and impartial investigation in the matter under the prime minister.
“How is it possible that one of India’s largest business groups, one that has been allowed to build monopolies in airports and seaports, could have escaped serious scrutiny for so long despite persistent allegations?” Ramesh said.
Other business groups have been harassed and raided for much less, he alleged.
“Was the Adani Group essential to a dispensation that has profited from ‘anti-corruption’ rhetoric all of these years,” Ramesh asked?
Tagging his statement, the Congress leader tweeted, “The eloquent silence of the PM on the Adani MahaMegaScam has forced us to start a series, HAHK-Hum Adanike Hain Kaun. We will be posing 3 questions to the PM daily beginning today.” He asked the PM to break his “silence” over the issue.
The Congress also started a Twitter poll on its official Twitter handle, asking people whether the PM will get the allegations of fraud against “his friend Adani” investigated.
The Adani group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements.
The 10 listed Adani group firms have faced a combined erosion of over Rs 8.5 lakh crore in just six trading sessions. Adani Enterprises also had to withdraw a Rs 20,000 crore share sale.
In her statement on the issue, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said on Saturday that India’s economic image is not affected due to Adani Group’s recent decision to pull out Rs 20,000 crore FPO amid allegations of financial wrongdoings.
The finance minister said there has been an accretion of USD 8 billion to the forex reserves in the last two days alone.
“…our macroeconomic fundamentals or our economy’s image, none of which has been affected. Yes, FPOs (follow-on public offers) come in, and FIIs (foreign institutional investors) get out,” Sitharaman told reporters here.
The minister said there are “fluctuations” in every market but the accretion over the last few days establishes the fact that the perception of both India and its inherent strengths is intact.

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#Modi #govt #hide #questions #Hum #Adani #Hain #Kaun #Cong
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 5, 2023
Cong to ask three questions daily on Adani issue

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New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday said that it will ask three questions a day related to Adani issue to the Prime Minister. The Congress said that after Panama Papers leak no action was taken despite assurance from the Prime Minister.
Congress Communication In-charge Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday, “Amid the allegations against the Adani Group, the Modi government has maintained a loud silence which smacks of collusion. Starting today, the Congress party will pose three questions a day to the Prime Minister.”
Raising a question before the Prime Minister, Ramesh alleged, “In response to the Panama Papers expose on 4 April 2016, the Ministry of Finance announced that you had personally directed a multi-agency investigative group to monitor financial flows to and from offshore tax havens. Subsequently, at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China on 5 September 2016, you stated: ‘We need to act to eliminate safe havens for economic offenders, track down and unconditionally extradite money launderers and break down the web of complex international regulations and excessive banking secrecy that hide the corrupt and their deeds.’ This leads to some questions that you and your government cannot hide from saying “HAHK (Hum Adani Ke Hain Kaun).”
“Vinod Adani, the brother of Gautam Adani, was named in the Panama Papers and the Pandora Papers as someone who operates offshore entities in the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands. He is alleged to have engaged in ‘brazen stock manipulation’ and ‘accounting fraud’ via ‘a vast labyrinth of offshore shell entities’. You have spoken often about your sincerity and ‘niyat’ in fighting corruption and even subjected the nation to the heavy costs of demonetisation.
“What does the fact that a business entity you are well acquainted with faces serious allegations tell us about the quality and sincerity of your investigations?” he asked.
The eloquent silence of the PM on the Adani MahaMegaScam has forced us to start a series, HAHK-Hum Adanike Hain Kaun. We will be posing 3 question to the PM daily beginning today. Here are the first three.
Chuppi Todiye Pradhan Mantriji pic.twitter.com/qUxt6eJVec
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 5, 2023
The Congress leader said, “Over the years you have misused agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to intimidate your political opponents and to punish business houses that do not fall in line with your cronies’ financial interests.
“What action has been taken, if ever, to investigate the serious allegations made over the years against the Adani Group? Is there any hope of a fair and impartial investigation under you?” he said
“How is it possible that one of India’s largest business groups, one that has been allowed to build monopolies in airports and seaports, could have escaped serious scrutiny for so long despite persistent allegations? Other business groups have been harassed and raided for much less. Was the Adani Group essential to a dispensation that has profited from ‘anti-corruption’ rhetoric all of these years?” he asked.

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#Cong #questions #daily #Adani #issue
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 5, 2023
ED questions Rahul Gandhi’s aide in money laundering case against TMC’s Saket Gokhale

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New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has questioned and recorded the statement of Alankar Sawai, a close aide of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a money laundering case in which TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale was recently arrested by the agency in Gujarat, officials said.
Sawai was questioned and also confronted with Gokhale in Ahmedabad over three days earlier this week, they said.
A former banker, Sawai is considered to be a close aide of Gandhi, a former Congress president, and is stated to be heading his research team.
The federal probe agency summoned Sawai after it arrested 35-year-old Gokhale on January 25 while he was in the Gujarat Police’s custody in connection with alleged financial irregularities in raising funds through a crowd funding platform.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), while seeking Gokhale’s remand on that day, had informed a Ahmedabad court that when he was asked about Rs 23.54 lakh deposited in his bank account in cash over a year, Gokhale had told the agency that “this amount was given in cash by Alankar Sawai of the India National Congress for social media work and other consultancy”.
On being asked as to why Sawai had paid him in cash, Gokhale stated that only Sawai can answer this question, the ED told the court in its remand paper.
“Further, on being asked regarding any written agreement with Alankar Sawai in respect of social media work he stated that it was only verbal agreement with Alankar Sawai,” the agency said.
The ED alleged that these cash deposits were recieved by Gokhale when he was a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Sawai is understood to have been questioned about these instances and his statement was recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Official sources said the questioning and confronting of the two has not helped them unearth the fund trail as stated by Gokhale even as Sawai purportedly denied making any cash payments.
The money laundering case against Gokhale stems from a Gujarat Police FIR.
The state police arrested Gokhale from Delhi in December last year in a case of alleged misuse of money he had collected through crowd-funding.
The ED had informed the Ahmedabad court that “huge amount of money collected through crowd funding (by Gokhale) has been splurged on speculative share trading, wining and dining and other personal expenses which appear to be extravagant in nature.”
Gokhale, however, had denied that he misused these funds.
The agency may question more people linked in the case.
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#questions #Rahul #Gandhis #aide #money #laundering #case #TMCs #Saket #Gokhale
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 4, 2023
CBI questions Jagan’s OSD in Vivekananda murder case

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Amaravati: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday questioned Krishna Mohan Reddy, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in former minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy’s murder case.
The central agency also quizzed Naveen, who works in the house of the chief minister.
The CBI officials questioned the duo for six-and-a-half hours in Kadapa.
The federal agency had issued notice to Krishna Mohan Reddy and Naveen on the basis of call data of Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy.
The CBI officials are understood to have questioned the duo as to what had happened on the day when Vivekananda Reddy was murdered. They collected information about phone calls made or received by them.
Last week, the CBI questioned Avinash Reddy, who is a cousin of the chief minister. He was grilled for more than four-and-a-half hours.
Vivekananda Reddy, paternal uncle of Jagan Mohan Reddy, was found murdered mysteriously at his residence at Pulivendula in Kadapa district on March 15, 2019, a month ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The 68-year-old former state minister and former MP was alone at his house when unidentified persons barged in and killed him. He was killed hours before he was to launch the YSR Congress Party’s election campaign in Kadapa.

Though three Special Investigation Teams (SITs) conducted the probe, they failed to solve the mystery.
The CBI took over the investigation into the case in 2020 on the direction of Andhra Pradesh High Court while hearing a petition of Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter Sunitha Reddy, who raised suspicion about some relatives.
The CBI filed a chargesheet in the murder case on October 26, 2021, and followed it up with a supplementary chargesheet on January 31, 2022.
In November last year, the Supreme Court transferred to a CBI court in Hyderabad the trial and probe into the larger conspiracy behind the murder.
The apex court observed that doubts raised by Sunitha Reddy about getting a fair trial and investigation in Andhra Pradesh were reasonable.
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#CBI #questions #Jagans #OSD #Vivekananda #murder #case
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 3, 2023
IWT: India questions World Bank’s decision to start two separate processes

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New Delhi: India on Thursday questioned the World Bank’s decision to appoint a Court of Arbitration and a neutral expert under two separate processes to resolve differences between New Delhi and Islamabad over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Last week, India issued a notice to Pakistan seeking a review and modification of the 62-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) for management of cross-border rivers following Islamabad’s “intransigence” in handling disputes.
“I do not think they (World Bank) are in a position to interpret the treaty for us. It is a treaty between our two countries and our assessment of the treaty is that there is a provision of graded approach,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
India took the significant step of sending the notice to Pakistan conveying its intent to amend the treaty months after the World Bank announced appointing a neutral expert and a chair of Court of Arbitration to resolve the differences over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects.
New Delhi has been particularly disappointed over the appointment of the Court of Arbitration.
“India’s Indus Water Commissioner issued a notice on January 25 for the modification of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 to his Pakistani counterpart,” Bagchi said at a media briefing while replying to a question on the matter.
“This notice was issued with the intent to provide an opportunity to Pakistan to enter into government-to-government negotiations to rectify ongoing material breach of the treaty,” he said.
Bagchi said India called upon Pakistan to notify a suitable date for the commencement of inter-state bilateral negotiations under article 12(III) of the treaty within 90 days.

“I am not aware of a response from Pakistan as yet. I am not aware of any response or comment by the World Bank,” he said.
The World Bank’s role is procedural and it appoints neutral experts or the chair of the court of arbitration in case of differences between India and Pakistan on issues relating to cross-border rivers.
“I do not think they (World Bank) are in a position to interpret the treaty for us. It is a treaty between our two countries and our assessment of the treaty is that there is a provision of graded approach,” Bagchi said.
New Delhi considers the start of the two concurrent processes to resolve the dispute a violation of the provision of the graded mechanism prescribed in the pact and wondered what will happen if the mechanisms come out with contradictory judgements.
“The world bank itself, around five-six years ago, acknowledged the problem of having two parallel processes. Our interpretation and assessment is that this is not in consonance with the provisions of the treaty and hence we have been talking about a graded approach,” Bagchi said.
The spokesperson said India’s position on the matter has not changed at all.
“I do not know whether the World Bank has changed its position on it,” he said.
India has not cooperated with the Court of Arbitration.
Under the pact, any differences need to be resolved under a three-stage approach. However, in the cases of Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, the World Bank started two concurrent dispute redressal processes at the insistence of Pakistan that India felt was a breach of the IWT, according to sources.
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#IWT #India #questions #World #Banks #decision #start #separate #processes
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 2, 2023
Odisha Minister assassination: Oppn questions ‘silence’ of CM, DGP

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Bhubaneswar: Condemning the murder of Odisha Health minister Naba Das by a cop, Opposition BJP and Congress questioned the “silence” of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and DGP Sunil Bansal on issue.
Rejecting the crime branch probe ordered by the Chief Minister, the BJP demanded a CBI probe in the matter while the Congress demanded a SIT probe under the supervision of Orissa High Court.
Speaking to media persons, Odisha BJP president Samir Mohanty said, “Minister Das was not just a politician, he was an influential and powerful cabinet minister in the state. If such a personality is killed in broad daylight, one can easily assume the condition of a common man in the state.”
“It is unfortunate that Naveen Babu, who has been in charge of the Home department for the last 23 years, has remained silent on the sensitive issue,” he added.
Though a cabinet minister was killed, the DGP and the Home secretary neither visited the spot in Jharsuguda nor spoke a word on the heinous murder, the state BJP president said.
He asserted that people will not accept it that the state police is investigating the case in which a cop has killed the minister. “By ordering a crime branch investigation, the state government has already decided what to do in this case. The crime branch has taken over a lot of cases in the past. But the findings are not encouraging,” Mohanty said.
To ensure proper instigation of the murder case, the BJP leader demanded a CBI probe into the case.
Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Jayanarayan Mishra (BJP) said, “We are not going to accept the story of the Odisha government that the accused police ASI Gopal Das was mentally unsound. A plot was created to kill the minister.”

Mishra also questioned “why the DGP is silent on this case”.
“As per the information available with us, the minister died on the spot. What was the necessity to airlift him from Jharsuguda to Bhubaneswar. Whether the Jharsuguda hospital authority had certified that Das was fit to airlift for further treatment?,” Mishra asked.
Claiming that the Crime Branch probe “cannot reveal the truth”, he demanded a CBI investigation into the incident.
Alleging there is a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the killing of the minister, Congress spokesperson Sudarshan Das demanded a probe by a SIT under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Orissa High Court.
“Though 48 hours passed to the incident, no action has been taken against any official, who is responsible for it,” Das said.
“There was a total failure of intelligence. But no action was taken till now. Why is the DGP and Home Minister (Chief Minister) not speaking up,” he asked.
Alleging that a conspiracy is being made “to suppress the truth behind the crime”, the Congress leader said that the Chief Minister should leave his Home portfolio on moral ground.
Reacting to the allegations made by the Opposition, senior BJD lawmaker Debi Prasad Mishra said, “As questions will be raised if the police will investigate the case in which a cop is the accused, a crime branch probe was ordered. To ensure transparency, the government has requested the Orissa high court to monitor the investigation by a sitting/retired judge.”
On the demand for CBI and SIT probe, Mishra said, “Let’s wait till the findings of the crime branch investigation has come up.”
The minister was shot dead by police ASI Gopal Krushna Das on January 29. The police ASI fired a single round of bullet from his service revolver at the minister’s chest. The ASI was arrested and has been sent to judicial custody.
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#Odisha #Minister #assassination #Oppn #questions #silence #DGP
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 31, 2023
Muslim leader questions delay in action against Mahant Raju Das

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Lucknow: All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat President Navaid Hamid on Monday questioned the delay in action against Mahant Raju Das who has announced a reward for beheading SP leader Swami Prasad Maurya.
In a tweet, Hamid said: “The government announces reward on those who proclaim ‘Sar tan se juda’ so why is action not being taken against others who have made similar proclamations? Will any legal action be taken against Mahant Raju Das and others like him?”
“By the way these people (Mahant Raju Das and others) are not Muslims and that probably explains the delay”, he added.
The UP DGP has been tagged in the tweet.
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#Muslim #leader #questions #delay #action #Mahant #Raju #Das
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 30, 2023
Maha Cong chief questions investments by PSUs, LIC in Adani Group; seeks SIT probe

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has alleged the money of LIC and other PSUs was invested in Adani Group at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which he claimed was “a massive scale of irregularities” and demanded a probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT).
He also demanded the Maharashtra government take back the Dharavi redevelopment project in Mumbai from the Adani group.
The Congress’ demand for an SIT probe came days after a New York firm alleged in a report that its two-year investigation found the Adani Group “engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades”.
Adani Group has threatened to sue Hindenburg Research for its “reckless” attempt to sabotage the mega share sale at Adani Enterprises and called the report “maliciously mischievous”.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani’s close relations are well known. The money of State Bank of India, LIC (Life Insurance Corporation), and other public sector undertakings (PSUs) have been invested by PM Modi without any thought and procedure in Adani group,” Patole alleged in a statement issued on Saturday.
He claimed such “favouritism” over the Adani Group has caused the fear of losing this money (against the backdrop of the group’s share tumbling on bourses).
“It is a massive scale of irregularities and there should be an SIT to probe it,” the Congress leader stated.
Patole alleged Narendra Modi’s closeness with Adani was well-known even before Modi became the prime minister (in 2014).

“After coming to power at the national level, PM Modi showed special favour and helped the group with a loan from SBI. The LIC has invested nearly Rs 74,000 crore in it. Adani could rank among the world’s richest persons so soon only because of Modi’s blessings.
“The public sectors undertakings that were performing well, have been given to Adani group for its operations as well. The bubble was burst and Adani may have to go to jail like Sahara group’s Subrato Roy,” Patole alleged.
He said it is a “world-known secret” that probe agencies were used to force a company to hand over the Mumbai international airport’s operations to Adani Group.
“Even Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has planned to hand over operations of state distribution utility to Adani group but it could not materialise because of the strong opposition from its union,” Patole added.
He claimed a Dubai-based real estate development company had put in the highest bid for the Dharavi slum rehabilitation project in Mumbai but the contract was awarded to Adani Group.
“Going by this group’s irregularities, it endangers the people living there and small businesses. The government should take back the Dharavi redevelopment project from the Adani group,” he demanded.
The Adani Group has termed the Hindenburg report malicious with unsubstantiated contents.
“The maliciously mischievous, unresearched report published by Hindenburg Research on January 24, 2023 has adversely affected the Adani Group, our shareholders and investors. The volatility in Indian stock markets created by the report is of great concern and has led to unwanted anguish for Indian citizens,” Adani Group’s legal head Jatin Jalundhwala had said in a statement.
“We are evaluating the relevant provisions under US and Indian laws for remedial and punitive action against Hindenburg Research,” he stated.
However, Hindenburg has stood by the report.
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#Maha #Cong #chief #questions #investments #PSUs #LIC #Adani #Group #seeks #SIT #probe
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 29, 2023