The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) leaders and members on Monday protested against the Adani Mahamega scam, patronage given to the Adani group by the Centre, and the silence maintained by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when there is market mayhem following the Hindenburg report on the group.

“The Hindenburg report has exposed how the nation’s money was looted and all attempts were made to hide it under the garb of pseudo-nationalism. Now Operation Adani Dost Bachao is underway,” the leaders said.

“What the government agencies like RBI, Enforcement Directorate, Directorate of Revenue and other financial agencies were doing when the public money was systematically being looted and all financial irregularities were being done. The Prime Minister who speaks on every issue, why he remained silent on the issue... what has prevented him from speaking? The people need an answer,” said former OPCC chief Jayadev Jena.

The protest meeting was organised as a part of the Congress’s nationwide protest on the Adani issue. They organised the protest near the RBI’s head office in Odisha and the State Bank of India’s main branch in the UNIT-3 areas of Bhubaneswar.

“All have come forward to support these elements. All financial establishments have come forward to save the Adani group. No one is there to look after the interests of the common people,” said another senior Congress leader Sarat Kumar Rout.

Another agitated Congress leader said: “During the last 10 days, millions of people have lost their money. Who will address the plight of the common people? Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and others are behind Adani. How come a man suddenly makes it into the top 10 rich in three years.”

OPCC chief Sarat Pattnayak said: “Our leader Rahul Gandhi and party raised the issues and are every day posing three queries. Let them answer these. All favouritism is shown to a company. Whether India does not have any company. Modi and Shah’s love for Adani has now been exposed.”