New Delhi, Dec 12: Opposition MPs on Thursday escalated their protest against the alleged Adani controversy, staging a demonstration within the Parliament complex. The lawmakers carried placards spelling out “Desh Bikne Nahi Denge” (We won’t let the country be sold off) and chanted slogans, reiterating their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the allegations surrounding the Adani Group.
This protest is the latest in a series of high-profile demonstrations spearheaded by the Congress and supported by other opposition parties, including the DMK and Left parties. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the MPs at prominent locations within the Parliament premises, including the Makar Dwar steps and the Samvidhan Sadan. The opposition leaders carried placards collectively forming the slogan and accused the government of fostering a nexus between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani.
“We will not rest until there is accountability. A JPC probe is essential to bring the truth to light,” said an opposition leader during the protest.
The demonstrations have grown more creative with each passing day. On Wednesday, opposition MPs greeted their BJP counterparts with tricolor-themed cards and red roses, urging them to ensure parliamentary discussions on the Adani issue. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi personally handed a tricolor card to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as a symbolic appeal.
Earlier in the week, Congress MPs carried dark blue ‘jholas’ (bags) adorned with caricatures of Modi and Adani, alongside the slogan “Modi-Adani Bhai-Bhai.” In another protest, Rahul Gandhi conducted a mock interview, with Congress members donning masks depicting Modi and Adani to draw attention to their alleged complicity.
The opposition’s demand for a JPC probe gained momentum after a US court indicted Adani and other company officials, alleging financial malpractices. Congress has declared this development as a vindication of their stance, emphasizing the need for deeper scrutiny into what they describe as “scams” involving the Adani conglomerate.
Rahul Gandhi has gone further, calling for Adani’s immediate arrest, a demand echoed by other opposition leaders. The Adani Group, however, has categorically denied all accusations, terming them “baseless and politically motivated.”
As the Winter Session continues, the opposition bloc, comprising Congress and parties under the INDIA alliance, has vowed to sustain their protests until their demands are met. Meanwhile, government officials have criticized the demonstrations as a disruption to parliamentary proceedings.