Opposition Unity Tested Again: After Savarkar, Cracks In Maharashtra's MVA Over Adani Issue; Congress' JPC Demand Continues

The Congress intensified its criticism and maintained its request for a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the Adani Group on Saturday, following Sharad Pawar's separation from the Opposition's Gautam Adani campaign the day before.

Pawar defended his Saturday remarks, stating that they won't affect Opposition unity. He acknowledged that when multiple parties unite, they may have varying opinions, which can be discussed.

Sources said, reports The Indian Express, that although the Congress was taken aback by NCP chief's comments, as his party had participated in opposition talks and he attended a dinner hosted by Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge, where he did not discuss the matter, the Congress has chosen to observe the situation for the time being.

A senior Congress leader said, when asked if the party would raise the issue with Pawar: “Let’s wait for some time… all this will die down in some days… the larger issue of Adani will remain.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been disqualified as MP due to conviction in a defamation case, tweeted in Hindi emphasizing his party's stand against the government's tactics to distract from pressing issues.

“They want to hide the truth, and hence they try to distract every day. The question remains the same, who does the Rs 20,000 crore in Adani’s benami companies belong to," Gandhi said.

In a tweet, the name Adani was used with its letters being indicated by the initials of five former Congress leaders who have now either shifted allegiance to the BJP or have expressed their support for it - Ghulam (from a), Scindia (from d), Kiran Reddy (from a), Himanta Biswa Sarma (from n), and Anil Antony (from i).

Anil K Antony, son of veteran Congress leader A K Antony, expressed his disappointment over the former president of a national party's remarks. After joining the BJP, he tweeted: “…sad to see a former president of a national party… speak like an online/ social media cell troll… Very humbled to see my fledgling name also with these tall stalwarts who have contributed decades for nation building work — and had to leave the party as they preferred to work for India and our people and not for a family”.

NCP's Sharad Pawar has given his 'personal opinion' on the Adani matter in Maharashtra, where the party is allied with Congress and Shiv Sena in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. However, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut assures that regardless of his opinion, it would not harm the unity of the opposition. This was confirmed by the Congress state chief, Nana Patole.

According to Pawar, the current situation would not have an adverse effect on the unity of the Opposition. He explained that when multiple parties work together, varying viewpoints are expected. He cited the example of the issue of Veer Savarkar where he expressed his stance of Congress refraining from attacking Savarkar, and it was resolved.

In an interview with NDTV on Friday, Sharad Pawar expressed his belief that the Adani Group was being unfairly targeted by unknown entities.

Countering this, Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh tweeted: “The Supreme Court Committee has very limited terms of reference. It cannot bring out the deep nexus between PM & Adani. Only a JPC can find answers to the HAHK (Hum Adanike Hain Kaun) series of 100 qns & more that are emerging. JPCs in 1992 & 2001 were both worthwhile exercises”.

Ajit Pawar, NCP MLA, backed Sharad Pawar's stance on the Joint Parliamentary Committee but earlier disagreed with Opposition parties questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's degrees. He clarified that Pawar's statement reflected the party's position, and they all supported it.

“The Congress did not decide to raise the Adani issue on its own. It was a collective decision of all the Opposition parties. Of course, there were some parties which did not agree to the idea of demanding a JPC. The difference was only on the kind of investigation to be demanded.

"Otherwise, all of us were on the same page – that the Prime Minister was promoting one industrial house. All of us had agreed that the issue was big enough to be highlighted. To say all this after the session is over… well, what can we say,” said a senior party leader.

Alka Lamba, a Congress leader, tweeted an alleged photo of Pawar with Adani, stating: “For their vested interests, the greedy are singing praises of the dictatorial government. Rahul Gandhi is fighting a lone battle for the people of India — against the capitalist thieves and the chowkidar.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, criticised Congress for their agitation questioning Adani Group, stating that even their party leader, Uddhav Thackeray, extensively talked about it. However, he stated that those protesting should take note of NCP leader Pawar's comments, who must have spoken after thorough research.

Also Read: Sharad Pawar Snubs JPC Demand, Defends Adani Group Over Hindenburg Report Controversy