NEW DELHI: Congress on Saturday criticised the ministry of external affairs‘ (MEA) statement that the Indian government is not involved in the US investigation into the Adani Group, questioning that “how the government could be part of a probe into itself?”
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, referencing a media report said that, “The MEA spokesperson says that the Indian Government is not part of the US probe into the Adani Group. He has simply stated the obvious. How can this Government be part of a probe into itself?”
Earlier on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued the first response to the US prosecutors’ allegations of fraud against the industrialist, stating that India has not received any requests for cooperation in the investigation.
The MEA said that the indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani by US prosecutors is a “legal matter” concerning private firms, individuals, and the US Department of Justice, with no prior notification given to New Delhi about the case.
“We see this as a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the US Department of Justice. Obviously, there are established procedures and legal avenues in such cases, which we believe would be followed,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing.
“We have not received any request on this case from the US side. This a matter which pertains to private entities and Government of India, is not legally a part of it in any manner, at this point in time,” Jaiswal said.
“The government of India was not informed in advance on the issue. We have not had any conversation with the US government on it,” he added.
Gautam Adani, founder chairman of the ports-to-energy conglomerate, his nephew Sagar and another principal executive have been indicted by the US Department of Justice for reportedly participating in an alleged scheme to disburse $265 million bribes to Indian officials to secure contracts for solar electricity supply, potentially yielding $2 billion profit across a 20-year duration.
The Adani Group has rejected all the allegations. Calling media reports of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations against the executives ‘incorrect’.
Adani Green Energy stated, “Media articles state that certain of our directors namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain have been charged with violation(s) of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment. Such statements are incorrect.”
He further highlighted that the GDP growth for the July-September 2024 quarter fell “well below expectations” at 5.4 percent, with consumption growing by an “uninspiring 6 percent,” and attributed the slowdown to “stagnant wages” affecting millions of workers.
“The GDP growth figures released last evening for July-Sept 2024 are much worse than anticipated, with India recording a measly 5.4 per cent growth and consumption similarly growing by an unimpressive 6 per cent,” Jairam said.
“The non-biological PM and his cheerleaders are wilfully blind to the causes of this sharp slowdown, but a new report on ‘Labour Dynamics of Indian States’ released by a leading Mumbai-based financial information services company, India Ratings and Research, on November 26, 2024 reveals its real cause: stagnant wages,” he added.
