It is clear PM Modi is protecting Adani, did not talk about inquiry: Rahul Gandhi on Modi's remarks in LS

Not satisfied with PM speech, no talk of Adani inquiry...clear PM is protecting him, says Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi, Feb 08: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that he is not satisfied with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in Lok Sabha.

He alleged it was clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was protecting Gautam Adani as he did not order an inquiry into the allegations levelled against the industrialist by a US-based research firm. He said the prime minister did not answer the questions he had posed to him.

Speaking outside the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said,''I'm not satisfied with the speech). No talk about inquiry happened. If he (Gautam Adani) is not a friend, then the PM should have said that inquiry should be conducted. It's clear that the PM is protecting him (Gautam Adani).''

Gandhi said this is an issue of national security and concerns the country's infrastructure and the prime minister should have said that there will be a probe into the allegations. "This is a very big scam. He did not even say that. He (PM) is surely trying to protect him (Adani) and I understand this and there are reasons for it," he said.

Asked if he got the answers to his questions, the former Congress chief said, "I did not get any reply from the prime minister to my questions." "The prime minister was shell-shocked. He was in shock and there was no answer. I have not asked any complicated question. I only asked how many times he (Adani) has gone with you. How many times did he meet you. I posed simple questions but got no answers," he said. "I am not satisfied, but it reveals the truth," he said when asked if he was satisfied with the prime minister's reply.

In a stinging attack on the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the trust reposed by crores of people was his protective shield which cannot be breached by abuse and allegations from his detractors.

Replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in Lok Sabha, Modi said the world was looking at India with hope amid instability in some parts of the globe due to the once-in-a-century pandemic and conflicts.

''But some people who are neck deep in frustration refuse to accept India's growth story. They cannot see the achievements of 140 crore Indians,'' Modi said, targeting the Opposition.

The prime minister said people know Modi has come to their help in times of crisis. ''How will they agree with your abuses and allegations,'' he told the Opposition.

''People trust in Modi not due to newspaper headlines or TV visuals but due to my years of dedication in the service of the people,'' Modi said.

Opposition MPs including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had targeted the government while raising the Adani-Hindenburg issue during the debate.

The prime minister said the Opposition had wasted the past nine years in levelling baseless allegations instead of indulging in constructive criticism.