In an abrupt turn of events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday led a fierce charge against the Congress, questioning why party MP Rahul Gandhi had stopped “abusing” industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani overnight.
“For years, the Congress’ shehzada used to chant ‘5 industrialists’…’Ambani, Adani’. But since the elections have been declared, he has stopped doing it. Why?” the Prime Minister asked while addressing a rally in Telangana’s Karimnagar.
PM Modi also asked Rahul to declare how much money Congress has received from the said industrialists. “How many sacks full of black money have you got from them? Have tempos filled with currency notes reached Congress? What deal have you cracked? You stopped abusing Ambani-Adani overnight. Something is fishy here.
“For five years you abused them relentlessly and then stopped overnight. This means that you have received some ill-gotten wealth filled in tempos. You must reveal this to the nation,” he said in his speech in Hindi.
For a better part of his second term as Prime Minister, Modi has received criticism from the Congress, particularly Rahul Gandhi, for his alleged links to Reliance Industries Limited Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani. In multiple attacks against the PM on the issue, including those in Parliament, Rahul has accused Modi of favouring these corporate groups and even alleged a quid pro quo.
The PM’s attack on the issue in Telangana also comes on the back off the Congress government courting the Adanis for investments. As per reports in January this year, the Adanis have announced investments worth Rs 12,400 crore in Telangana. Officials of the Telangana government and Adani Group representatives signed agreements in this regard in the presence of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, a government statement read.