New Delhi: For the second day in a row, opposition parties held protests in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to demand a discussion on the situation arising out of the allegations against the Adani group and the fall in its stocks in which several public sector banks and Life Insurance Corporation hold stakes.
The opposition had on Thursday stated that it would demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe or a time-bound investigation by a Supreme Court-appoint panel into the allegations against the corporate house.
Kharge convenes meeting; Trinamool Congress stays away
Before the start of the day’s proceedings, the opposition members again met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the strategy on cornering the Central Government in the matter.
Prior to the meeting of the floor leaders of the opposition parties, Kharge said “we had given notices yesterday but no discussion took place”.
Today’s meeting in Kharge’s chamber was attended by members of 16 opposition parties. Ahead of the meeting, Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh tweeted: “Floor leaders of Opposition parties will be meeting at 10 am in chamber of LoP @kharge -ji in Parliament House to coordinate strategy. The demand remains the same. Only an independent investigation will save LIC, SBI and other institutions FORCED by PM to invest in the Adani Group.”
Floor leaders of Opposition parties will be meeting at 10am in chamber of LoP @kharge-ji in Parliament House to coordinate strategy. The demand remains the same. Only an independent investigation will save LIC, SBI and other institutions FORCED by PM to invest in the Adani Group.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 3, 2023
16 Opposition parties come together at meeting
Since almost twice as many Opposition parties attended the meeting today in comparison to Thursday, it showed the amount of concern which the erosion of public wealth and the fear of some large banks and public institutions losing money caused.
The parties which attended the meeting were the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadmi Party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Shiv Sena, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal United, Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI, Nationalist Congress Party, National Conference, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress (Jose Mani), KC (Thomas) and Revolutionary Socialist Party.
The Trinamool Congress did not attend the meeting saying “there is nothing more to discuss” as everything had been finalised on Thursday.
In comparison to Thursday, many more notices were given by MPs in both Houses to discuss the situation that arose following the Hindenburg Research report on the Adani group.
‘Discuss loss to public, LIC, SBI due investment in Adani stocks’
Among these, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dr Syed Naseer Hussain gave a Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 to discuss “the issue of fraud in investment by LIC, SBI, Public Sector Banks and Other Financial Institutions losing market value.”
Another Rajya Sabha MP, Elamaram Kareem of CPI(M), also gave a notice under the same Rule seeking a discussion on “a high-level inquiry is essential on the allegations levelled by Hindenburg Research against the Adani group.”
Similarly, Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena sought a discussion in the Upper House on “reported incidents of over-exposure of holdings of LIC, SBI, etc and market manipulation allegations against certain crucial business firms and concerns over market stability and investor confidence in that regard.”
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also gave a notice “to discuss the issue of frauds in investment by LIC, SBI, public sector banks and other financial institutions losing market value, endangering the hard-earned savings of crores of Indians.”
Both Houses adjourn amid Opposition protest
When the Rajya Sabha assembled, Kharge raised the issue in the House but Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar did not allow a discussion and urged the members to let the House continue with its designated business. However, as the opposition members persisted with their demand and raised slogans, he adjourned the proceedings till 2-30 pm.
In Lok Sabha, too when the Opposition members demanded a discussion Speaker Om Birla disallowed it saying the House is to take up the important discussion on Presidential Address. He charged that the opposition was not allowing the discussion on the first address by President Draupadi Murmu who comes from an Adivasi background. As the opposition protest continued, the House was adjourned till 2 pm.