NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to reply the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, later today in the Lok Sabha.Â
President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint session of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on January 31 marked the start of the budget session.
The speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came a day after Congressman Rahul Gandhi spoke on the Motion of Thanks to President Murmu. During the debate, the Hindenburg-Adani controversy was a major topic, and opposition MPs pressed for an investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition, spearheaded the opposition's attack on the Hindenburg report on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha. He asserted that Gautam Adani's riches had a spectacular surge after the BJP took office in 2014 as he climbed the global rich list from 609th to the second rank. Gandhi launched a volley of accusations at Modi while speaking as the first member of the opposition in the Lok Sabha debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address.
He enquired as to the total amount that Adani had donated to the BJP over the last 20 years, including through electoral bonds.
Gandhi was asked by Speaker Birla to concentrate on the President's speech.
India could be used as a case study in business schools like Harvard's Adani case study on how business and politics interact, according to Gandhi.
He also criticised Modi for criticising the opposition's criticism of the Rafale agreement while purportedly ignoring Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's capabilities (HAL).
The Congressman's decision to display particular images in the House did not meet with Speaker Om Birla's approval. "If you display posters, the BJP will display those featuring the chief minister of Rajasthan (with Adani). These are not matters for the parliament, "said Birla.
Gandhi claimed that the government changed the rules to Adani's benefit and said the rule that no one without experience may be involved in airport development was removed.
"The government altered this provision, giving Adani access to six airports. Mumbai Airport, India's most important and lucrative airport, was subsequently taken away from GVK via agencies "Rahul Gandhi made a claim.
"The result is 24Â percent of India's air traffic and 31Â percent of air freight passes through Adani's airports," Gandhi said.
The treasury benches frequently pressed Gandhi to substantiate his charges, arguing that the government cannot be accused of such things without proof in writing.
"While HAL and other companies used to manufacture drones, Adani has never done so. They have four defence companies and had never undertaken this business before; Adani produces small guns and sniper rifles " he said.
He asserted that Adani Group controls 90% of Israel-India defence cooperation and has a 30% market share in the airports sector.
The budget session will last for two weeks, with the first half taking place from January 31 to February 11 and the second from March 14 to April 8.
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