Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, clarified his stance on the issue and said he is not against any corporations; rather, his opposition is to monopolisation, a day after Rajasthan’s chief minister Ashok Gehlot faced criticism for praising industrialist Gautam Adani while Rahul Gandhi continues to target Adani-Ambani in his attacks against the BJP government.
“Mr Adani has committed ₹60,000 crore to Rajasthan. No chief minister can refuse such an offer. In fact, it would not be correct for a chief minister to refuse such an offer,” Rahul Gandhi said as he was asked to comment on the issue. At the Bharat Jodo press conference on Saturday, he stopped Jairam Ramesh who asked reporters to ask questions only relating to Bharat Jodo and said he will answer the question as it is an important one. “I will also answer this question in English,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“My contention is in the use of political power to help certain chosen businesses. My opposition is to 2 or 3 or 4 large businesses being helped politically to monopolise every single business in this country. That is where my opposition is,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“I am in no way against the corporates, businesses, but against the complete monopolisation of businesses as that weakens the country. And today what we are seeing is a complete monopolisation of all businesses. And that’s my problem,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi stated, “The day they do that, I will stand in the opposition.” The Rajasthan government has not utilised political clout to assist Adani in the state.
Ashok Gehlot praised Gautam Adani at the Rajasthan Investment Summit on Friday, addressing him as Adani bhai. As the second-richest person in the world, he also congratulated him on that achievement. The BJP referred to Gehlot’s praise for Adani as a “tight slap” on Rahul Gandhi in light of his apparent break with the high command during the Rajasthan uprising.
“Rahul Gandhi’s Congress party which constantly curses the central government in the name of Adani is now being kind to him. The head of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot is providing valuable land to Adani group on concessional rates,” deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore said.
In the next five to seven years, the head of the Adani Group plans to invest $65,000 crore in the state by building a 10,000 MW solar power facility, expanding a cement plant, and improving the Jaipur International Airport.
While this happened in Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi on Friday did not dither to tweet against this ‘monopolisation’. “Yesterday, I met a woman. Her farmer husband died of suicide as he had a debt of ₹50,000. One Bharat: Loan to capitalist friends at 6% interest and loan waiver of crores. Second India: A life full of debt and hardships at 24% interest to Annadata. ‘Two Indias’ in one country, we will not accept it,” he tweeted.