Team Herald
PANJIM: The indictment of business tycoon Gautam Adani and other executives in the United States on charges of securities fraud and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has ignited a fierce political row in Goa, with leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress exchanging accusations.
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Leader of the Opposition, Yuri Alemao, demanded Adani’s immediate arrest, alleging that the Modi government has shielded him from legal scrutiny. “Industrialist Gautam Adani should be arrested as he faces charges in the USA for bribery and fraud. Reports now show Adani has broken both Indian and American laws. The Modi government must prove it doesn’t favour Adani by taking action,” Alemao said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State president, Adv Amit Palekar, criticised central agencies, stating that the indictment is evidence of their lack of independence. “The indictment of Gautam Adani had discredited ED, CBI and SEBI which shows that these central agencies are not independent, and they cannot investigate independently. Protecting fraudsters like Adani brings embarrassment to the government and every Indian citizen. The seizure of narcotics at Adani’s port cannot happen without protection for the accused,” Palekar alleged, also calling for scrutiny of the SEBI chairperson.
Former Law and Judiciary Minister Adv Ramakant Khalap expressed concern over the impact on India’s economy and global reputation. “Adani’s indictment by the US Department of Justice is a national embarrassment that may deter foreign investment. Everyone knows Adani’s ties with Modi, raising questions about the government’s credibility,” Khalap said, urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the issue.
BJP leaders, however, dismissed the allegations as baseless. Spokesman Giriraj Pai Vernekar said the Congress is using the issue to tarnish Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image. “The Congress and Rahul Gandhi have consistently attacked Modi since 2002, but their efforts have failed. Adani’s investments in Congress-ruled states and elsewhere show the Opposition’s hypocrisy,” Vernekar said. “The Adani Group invested Rs 25,000 crore in Chhattisgarh and Rs 65,000 crore in Rajasthan when Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot were in power. Similarly, the conglomerate invested Rs 45,000 crore in DMK-ruled Tamil Nadu and recently contributed Rs 100 crore to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy for a skill development foundation. If Adani is indeed corrupt, as the Congress alleges, why are Congress-ruled governments actively seeking investments from his company?” he asked.
BJP State Vice President Shaikh Jina echoed this sentiment, accusing the Congress of politicising the issue to target Modi. “The Congress is again trying to tarnish Modi’s name. But they won’t succeed. Let the law take its own course,” Jina said.
