BJP Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi Over Adani Indictment: 'All States Mentioned In Report Had Congress CM'

The BJP claimed that the states accused of receiving bribes from the Adani Group for solar power deals, as stated in the US indictment, were all governed by opposition parties.

During a press conference on Thursday, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticised Rahul Gandhi for trying to damage the Prime Minister's reputation after the Congress MP alleged that Narendra Modi was complicit with Gautam Adani in corrupt practices.

"None of the four states mentioned in the US charges against the Adani Group had a BJP Chief Minister. Congress and its allies were in power in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu," Patra stated.

According to US prosecutors, the Adani Group allegedly paid $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials between 2021-2023 to secure contracts with state electricity distribution companies. However, the Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as baseless.

The states named in the US indictment include Odisha (then ruled by Naveen Patnaik's BJD), Tamil Nadu (under the DMK), Chhattisgarh (under Congress), and Jammu and Kashmir (under central rule). At the time, Andhra Pradesh was governed by Jagan Reddy's YSR Congress.

BJP attacks Rahul over bail comments

Patra also took aim at Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Congress leader of frequently attacking India and its institutions. He pointed out that Gandhi had similarly stirred controversy over the Rafale deal in 2019, claiming a significant revelation was forthcoming, but it never materialised. He also recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gandhi had held press conferences regarding vaccines, only to later apologise to the Supreme Court.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi's statement that Congress was performing the "work of the judiciary," Patra remarked that both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi were out on bail in the National Herald case.

"Rahul Gandhi, in his press conference, said that the Congress party is doing the work of the judiciary too. The mother-son duo is out on bail, and they are doing the work of the judiciary! Half of them are out on bail, and they are doing the work of the judiciary!" Patra added.