The Congress stands firm on its position on the Adani controversy, unperturbed by Sharad Pawar’s intervention in favour of the business group that it believes reflects only his idiosyncratic politics and does not herald the NCP breaking ranks with the rest of the Opposition.

Without openly rebutting Pawar’s position, articulated in an interview with Adani’s TV channel, the Congress has asserted that it would continue to ask questions about Adani and his alleged ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national interest.

Many Congress leaders privately said that those who know Pawar are not surprised. They denied the possibility of any major political fallout from the NCP veteran’s comments.

Pawar, whose party was a signatory to the demand for a JPC probe into the allegations against Adani and protested with the rest of the Opposition against the government’s continued rejection of a parliamentary debate or investigation on the matter, played the Adani controversy down in the interview.

“…Out-of-proportion importance was given to the issue. The issues that were raised, who raised them, we had never heard of these people (US short-seller Hindenburg Research, which has brought the allegations of financial impropriety against the Adani group), what is their background?” he said.

“When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the country’s economy. We cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted.”

Pawar issued a clarification on Saturday. “I haven’t said anything special…. It is true the Opposition demanded a JPC and my party supported it. But the composition of the JPC will be such that the ruling party will have an overwhelming majority,” he said.

“We are not sure how much truth will come out under these circumstances. There is another option of (a probe by a) Supreme Court committee which may have greater credibility.”

Pawar repeated his objection to the kind of direct and sustained attacks that Rahul Gandhi has mounted on Adani and Ambani, recalling how Tata and Birla had faced similar criticism in the past. He said that like Tata and Birla, Adani and Ambani had made contributions to the country.

However, such a defence would sound hollow to many ears, as Adani faces allegations of stock manipulation, accounting fraud and money laundering through shell companies, among others.

Trinamul Congress MP Mahua Moitra tweeted: “Adani owned channel interviewing Adani’s friends to tell us how he is being targeted. Long live Indian Media — you truly are a rare species!”

Pawar is known for his proximity to corporate houses, including Adani’s. However, his comment has evoked protest, although mild, from his Opposition friends.

“We are fighting a grim battle against the BJP on the ground. This statement by Pawar has caused deep anguish in both Uddhav Thackeray’s party and the Congress,” a former minister from Maharashtra told The Telegraph.

The former minister added: “Even NCP workers and leaders are angry, but they understand Pawar. They insist that this interview should be treated merely as a helping hand to a friend (Adani and Modi) in crisis, and there should be no doubt about the NCP’s continuance in the alliance.

“But the central leadership of the Congress should wake up and strengthen the relationship with Uddhav Thackeray. We should not rely on Pawar for mediation.”

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh responded to Pawar’s observations saying: “The NCP may have its views but 19 like-minded Opposition parties are convinced that the PM-linked Adani group issue is real and very serious.

“All the parties, including the NCP, are united and will be together in saving the Constitution and democracy from the BJP’s assaults and in defeating the BJP’s divisive and destructive political, social and economic agenda.”

Ramesh disagreed with Pawar’s advocacy of a probe by a Supreme Court committee, a suggestion hailed by Adani and dismissed by the Congress as a move to protect Modi and Adani.

“The Supreme Court committee has very limited terms of reference. It cannot bring out the deep nexus between PM & Adani. Only a JPC can find answers to the HAHK (Hum Adani Ke Hain Kaun) series of 100 questions and more that are emerging. JPCs in 1992 & 2001 were both worthwhile exercises,” he tweeted.

That the Congress doesn’t want to confront Pawar headon but is unhappy with his intervention was manifested in various forms.

Rahul Gandhi chose to underline his stand and express his disagreement with Pawar by tweeting: “They have to hide the truth and hence diversionary tricks every day. The question is the same — Whose money is the benami Rs 20,000 crore in Adani’s companies?”

Rahul alleged through a graphic that the recent controversies over Congress turncoats Ghulam Nabi Azad and Jyotiraditya Scindia (who have made provocative remarks), Kiran Kumar (former Congress chief minister of Andhra Pradesh who has joined the BJP), Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Anil Antony (A.K. Antony’s son who has joined the BJP) were all diversionary ploys.

CPI national council secretary and Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam tweeted: “It’s unfortunate that the opposition unity efforts face a bit of a hindrance because of the Adani factor. I trust Pawarji would understand the importance of the struggle for secular democracy and continue to be one of the leaders of that united struggle. Let the JPC bring out the truth.”

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera posted a picture of a “supari shop” named “Modani” with this message: “Kaun kis se kis ki supari utha raha hai mitron (Who is accepting a contract from whom and for whom, friends)?”

The comment — which contains an allusion to Modi’s recent complaint about people accepting supari (contracts) to defame him — seemed a jibe at Pawar for defending Adani on a TV channel owned by him.