Trinamool, SP missing as INDIA bloc holds protest on Adani row at Parliament gate, allowing House to function

PM’s silence on Adani indictment speaks volumes, says LoP Rahul Gandhi; AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), Left, DMK join protest; Congress pushes for JPC probe on Adani, but SP, TMC prioritise State issues

Having reached an agreement with the government after a week of disrupting Parliament sessions, some Opposition parties on Tuesday (December 3, 2024) took their protest against the government’s silence on the Adani indictment to the Makar Dwar, the main entrance of the Parliament building complex.

The Hindu had reported on Monday (December 2, 2024) that such a protest would be held and that the Congress would try and get other INDIA bloc parties on board while agreeing to let the Parliament function.

Top politicians at the protest included Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party’s, the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Misa Bharti, and the Shiv Sena (UBT)‘s Arvind Sawant. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MPs and those from Left parties also joined in. The Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party MPs were significant absentees.

PM’s silence on Adani

The MPs raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded accountability.

“Protesting at Makar Dwar, Parliament complex today, asking the real question: Who benefits from Adani’s billions, Modi ji? The Prime Minister’s silence speaks volumes,” Mr. Gandhi said in a Facebook post.

The Congress, along with some parties, has been demanding a probe by a joint parliamentary committee probe into the indictment of Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani and other company officials by U.S. prosecutors on bribery and fraud charges.

Differing priorities

Some other Opposition parties, however, have instead been wanting to discuss issues related to their home States. The TMC sought a discussion on the situation in Bangladesh, while the SP wanted to discuss the recent violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal.

On Monday, there had been a breakthrough in the week-long Parliament logjam, with the government and Opposition reaching a consensus on holding a discussion on the Constitution in both the Houses. The government also agreed to allow certain issues like the situation in Bangladesh and the violence in Sambhal to be raised during Zero Hour, but would not accede to any discussion on the Adani indictment matter.

Published - December 03, 2024 08:33 pm IST