No objection to JPC probe on Adani row: NCP chief Sharad Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said his party does not agree with the demand of anti-BJP parties for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into allegations against the Adani group, but it will not go against their stand for the sake of Opposition unity.

"The opinion of our friendly parties (on JPC) is different from ours, but we want to maintain our unity. I gave my opinion (on futility of JPC probe), but if our colleagues (Opposition parties) feel that JPC is a must then we will not oppose it. We don't agree with them (Opposition parties), but for the sake of Opposition unity, we will not insist on this (that there should be no JPC)," PTI quoted Pawar in an interview with Marathi news channel ABP Majha.

In an interview with NDTV, Pawar came out in support of the Adani Group and criticised the narrative around Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate.

"Such statements were given by other individuals earlier too and there was a ruckus in Parliament for a few days but this time out-of-proportion importance was given to the issue," he said.

"The issues that were kept, who kept them, we had never heard of these people who gave the statement, what is the background. When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the country's economy, we cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted," Pawar had said.

A day later, Pawar told reporters that he was not completely opposed to a JPC probe into the charges against the Adani group, but a Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee would be "more useful and effective" in dealing with the matter.

Following Pawar's remarks, seen as a setback for Opposition unity, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had said the NCP may have its views on the issue, but 19 like-minded parties are convinced the "PM-linked Adani group" issue is real and very serious.

The veteran parliamentarian said if a JPC is formed, looking at the BJP's numerical strength in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the ruling party will have 14-15 members in the panel, while the Opposition will have five to six MPs.

"The panel will also be headed by the BJP. So who will control the panel and what will be its influence on the report?" Pawar had asked, seeking to drive home the point that a parliamentary probe committee will have a limited scope.

The Supreme Court last month ordered setting up of a six-member committee headed by a former apex court judge to look into various regulatory aspects for stock markets, including the recent Adani group shares crash triggered by the Hindenburg Research's fraud allegations.

The US-based Hindenburg Research has made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against the business conglomerate. The Adani group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements.

With inputs from PTI