Adani row: Congress to hold nationwide protests in front of LIC, SBI offices on February 6

As the Adani row escalates, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the party will hold a nationwide protest on February 6 in front of LIC and SBI offices.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the party members will stage a nationwide protest on February 6 (File photo)

By Pankaj Khelkar: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Saturday said the party will stage a nationwide protest in front of LIC and SBI offices across the country on February 6. In Parliament, the Opposition alleged that the recent fluctuation in Adani Group shares is a scam that involves common people’s money as public sector LIC and SBI have invested in them.

Speaking to ANI, Venugopal said, “The government at the Centre is using common people’s money to support their closest friends.”

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole spoke to India Today and said, “The Adani Group has looted LIC and banks with fake papers and the Modi government is not ready to speak about it.” He said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had requested to discuss the issue in Parliament but the government is “not ready to discuss”.

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The Congress party’s decision to hold a nationwide protest comes after it said the Opposition was not given “even a minute” to raise the Adani issue in Parliament. Earlier, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said only an independent investigation will save LIC, SBI and other institutions “forced by the Prime Minister to invest in the Adani Group.”

Parliament adjourned on Friday for the second consecutive day without transacting any business after the Opposition stepped up its demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe or a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the Adani issue.

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A US-based short-seller, Hindenburg Research, had accused Adani Group of stock manipulation, improper use of tax havens and money laundering. It also raised concerns about the group’s mounting debts.

Following the allegations, Adani’s shares faced a massive crash and people started raising concerns over SBI and LIC’s exposure to the Adani Group.

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