BJP Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi Over His Hindenburg Dig: 'What's Your Relationship With ...'?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took aim at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday, following his "umpire is compromised" remark in response to the new Hindenburg Research report.

BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan likened the situation to former cricketer Greg Chappell's controversial tactics, stating that the "hit-and-run" Hindenburg and the "crooked" Congress-INDIA alliance are engaging in "shady and deceitful underarm bowling" to undermine India's stock market and its regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

He further accused the alliance of attempting to "destabilise" the financial system.

"Rahul Gandhi made a cricketing analogy...Their desperate attempts will miserably fail because India under the leadership of PM Modi... our economy is not only stable, it is the fastest-growing economy in the world," Kesavan told PTI.

On Sunday, Rahul Gandhi expressed grave concerns about the integrity of India's stock market following allegations from US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research. He raised questions about a potential conflict of interest involving SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch.

"This is an explosive allegation because it alleges that the umpire herself is compromised...Why hasn't SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch resigned yet?" Gandhi asked in a video message, further questioning who would be held accountable if investors lose their money: "PM Modi, the SEBI Chairperson, or Gautam Adani?"

As per Hindustan Times, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya took to X and slammed Gandhi, calling him "Balak Buddhi" (child's intellect) and accusing him of going "rogue."

Malviya argued that Gandhi is "openly inciting and seeding doubt about the genuineness of the Indian stock markets," adding that "this blatant attempt to undermine confidence in our economy reveals the true intention of Rahul Gandhi, which is nothing but the destruction of India."

Malviya posed three pointed questions to Gandhi:

"What is your connection with Anla Cheng-Mark Kingdon enterprise or for that matter the OCCRP and other George Soros-backed entities?"

"What is your relationship with Hindenburg? Congress leaders start posting minutes after the Hindenburg reports come out. Are these reports made in collaboration with the Congress?"

"Why has your hatred for Prime Minister Modi morphed into disdain for India's growth story?"

He concluded by stating, "Rahul Gandhi's actions reveal his true intentions-not just a political rivalry with the BJP, but a deliberate effort to undermine India's economic progress. The Indian people deserve better Opposition."

The latest Hindenburg Research report accuses SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval Buch, of having stakes in offshore entities linked to the Adani Group's alleged financial misconduct.

The report alleges that just weeks before Madhabi Buch's appointment to SEBI, Dhaval Buch transferred their investments into his sole control, possibly to avoid scrutiny related to her new regulatory role.

The report questions SEBI's impartiality in its probe against the Adani Group, citing "potential conflicts of interest."

Both Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband have denied the allegations, calling them "baseless" and accusing Hindenburg of attempting a "character assassination" of SEBI's chief.

The Buchs asserted, "Our life and finances are an open book...All our financial disclosures have been furnished to the stock market regulator over the years. We have no hesitation in disclosing any and all financial documents, including those that relate to the period when we were strictly private citizens, to any and every authority that may seek them."

The Adani Group also responded, calling the charges "malicious, mischievous, and manipulative selections of publicly available information."