Gautam Adani is fooling PM Modi: TMC MP Mahua Moitra

Moitra questions why Dhamra Port was handed over to Adani without a tender.

New Delhi, Feb 09: TMC MP Mahua Moitra, who is in the centre of controversy for her offensive remark in the Parliament, has said that businessman Gautam Adani is fooling Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She has also clarified in an interview with India Today that he never made allegations of corruption against the Prime Minister, but pointed out that he wanted the PM to give a statement on Adani row. "This man is travelling with you everywhere. Everyone thinks this man is close to you. So if he is not close to you, tell us he is not close to you. Tell us he hasn't travelled with you. Tells us you have nothing to do with him. Tell the Sebi to do an investigation. Ask for a court-monitored investigation. Give us the answers," the website quoted her as saying in an exclusive interview.

She then stated that there was nothing "personal" here and questioned why Dhamra Port was given to Adani without a tender. "If he has won something by tender, nobody is saying anything to that. Why was Dhamra Port handed over to Adani without a tender? When I wrote a question in the parliament, the answer came back that it was not granted by tender but after prolonged commercial negotiations. This is nothing personal," she added. The MP then claimed that the TMC wants the Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the Adani row.

Adani group is facing allegations of fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation by a US-based short-seller. However, the company has denied all the allegations as lies.

The BJP has been targeted by Congress and other opposition parties over the issue.

On Tuesday, Moitra, MP from Krishnanagar Constituency, stoked a controversy by using an unparliamentary word during Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. She made the remarks after finishing her speech and when TDP MP K Ram Mohan Naidu was addressing the Lower House. However, the TMC MP has remained defiant citing past instances of BJP leaders using objectionable words in the House and said she called "an apple, an apple".