NEW DELHI: The winter session of Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Monday moments after the leader of opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, and chairman Jagdeep Dhankar found themselves in a stand-off over ‘Gautam Adani issue’ as latter raised it in the upper house despite former’s objections.
“Sir, the discussion on Rule 267 is very important. If you suspend today’s business, we can explain the Adani bribery case that is affecting the entire country,” Kharge said adding, “Modi ji is supporting him (Adani).”
Dismissing all discussions under Rule 267, Dhankar responded, “Nothing is going on record.”
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar rejected 13 notices under Rule 267, including seven seeking a discussion on the US indictment related to an alleged $265 million bribery payment to government officials by Adani group.
Despite this, Congress and Left parties pressed for a debate, eventually leading to adjournment of the house for the day.
Following the adjournment of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the Congress accused the government of being “scared” of the Adani issue and refusing to engage in a discussion on it.
“The Modani issue rocked both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha today. INDIA parties called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the Modani scam — the case for which has been reinforced by the recent indictments of Adani’s bribery and suppression of information from Indian and American regulators,” the grand old party’s spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said.
Other notices under Rule 267, which seeks to suspend the listed business to address urgent matters, included demands for discussions on ongoing violence in Manipur, clashes in UP’s Sambhal district, and special aid for flood-hit Wayanad district in Kerala.
Gautam Adani and seven others, were charged last week by US authorities for allegedly agreeing to pay around $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials. The charges are linked to efforts to secure contracts that could yield $2 billion in profits over the next 20 years, including for the development of country’s largest solar power project.
In response, the Adani Group has denied all accusations, calling them baseless, and vowed to pursue “all possible legal recourse.”