© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Leaders of several Opposition parties said Monday they will not let the Government “run away” from setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine the Adani row, deepening the standoff between the two sides which threatens to washout the entire ongoing second leg of Parliament’s Budget Session.
At a joint press conference, leaders of nine parties – Congress, Samajwadi Party, JD(U), BRS, CPM, CPI, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, and AAP – asserted that the Opposition “stands united” on the demand for a JPC, which will “expose the nexus between the Adani Group and the Modi government”. However, Trinamool Congress, which has sought a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the issue instead of a JPC, once again stayed away from the joint Opposition strategising.
The Opposition leaders also condemned the Delhi Police notice to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his remarks during the Bharat Jodo Yatra on sexual violence against women. Even the AAP, which has questioned the Congress’ stance on the arrest of former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, spoke out against the police action.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had termed the Meghalaya government led by Conrad Sangma as the most corrupt. Will the Delhi Police take note of it and question Shah to seek more details on his allegation?” AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh asked.
The thrust of the joint press conference, however, was on the demand to set up a JPC. In the morning, representatives of at least 15 Opposition parties met at the office of Mallikarjun Kharge, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Upper House and the Congress President, to chalk out a floor coordination strategy.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari alleged the ruckus created by the BJP against Gandhi’s London remarks on the state of Indian democracy “cannot be happening without the signal of the prime minister.” “These are diversionary tactics. The entire Opposition stands united on the question of JPC, which will unmask the BJP from top to bottom. Come what may, we will not give up our demand,” Tiwari said.
Speaking to reporters separately, Kharge said, “We have sought time for tomorrow. If he (Rahul) is allowed to he will definitely speak. It is said that a person who wants to offer his personal explanation is being denied an opportunity to do so.”
BRS MP Keshava Rao said while the Supreme Court has already set up a panel on the matter, they are “not satisfied with it.” “We are not rejecting it but a JPC is needed as it will be able to look into the legal as well as political aspects of the issue, which has consequences on the economy. We are not asking for anybody’s favour. This demand shall remain till the JPC is appointed, let there be no doubt on anybody’s mind,” Rao said.
On March 2, the top court had formed a six-member expert committee “to investigate if there was a regulatory failure in dealing with the alleged contravention of laws pertaining to the securities market in relation to the Adani Group or other companies” and submit a report in a sealed cover in two months.
DMK MP A Raja said although he was not allowed to depose before the JPC which was set up during the term of UPA II to investigate the allegations in the 2G spectrum case, “We gave our inputs which were thoroughly discussed.”
“What has happened in this case is that the Hindenburg report says there was stock manipulation and accountancy fraud. Let them prove that the report is motivated,” Raja said. He also condemned the police notice to Rahul Gandhi, terming it as “illegal”.
CPM’s Elamaram Kareem also said the Opposition will not let the “government run away” from setting up a JPC which was seconded by CPI MP Binoy Viswam, who alleged that “Parliament is being undermined and the basic values of democracy are being threatened”.
