Trinamul Congress MP Mahua Moitra has alleged that industrialist Gautam Adani tried to “get to me” and some other people through his “wheeler dealers” and obliquely criticised NCP leader Sharad Pawar for meeting the Gujarat-based businessman.
The MP, who figures prominently among those who have been piling pressure on the Narendra Modi government on the Adani controversy, made the disclosure hours after Gautam Adani met Pawar at the politician’s residence, Silver Oak, in south Mumbai.
No politician should engage with Adani until the government takes action on the charges levelled against him, Moitra said.
“Adani tried utmost to get to me & few others through his friends/wheeler dealers. He couldn’t even find the door, let alone get past it. I have nothing to discuss on 1:1 basis with Adani. I firmly believe till govt takes action no politician should engage with this man,” Moitra tweeted.
Without mentioning Pawar’s name, Moitra tweeted: “I have no fear in taking on Great Marathas. Can only hope they have good sense to put country before old relationships.”
“And no, my tweet is not anti-opposition unity. Rather it is pro-public interest,” Moitra added. Adani met Pawar on Thursday morning — at a time the Opposition has been demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into allegations of fraud against the business group.
The meeting lasted for nearly two hours, sources said. Earlier this month, Pawar had come out in support of the Adani group and criticised the narrative around US short-seller Hindenburg Research’s report on the conglomerate. Taking a position at variance from senior ally Congress, Pawar had said he favoured a Supreme Court committee to probe the allegations against the Adani group as the ruling BJP would have a majority in the JPC based on numerical strength in Parliament and this would lead to doubts on such a probe.
The NCP chief had later said that although his party does not agree with the demand of the anti-BJP parties for a JPC probe into the allegations against the Adani group, it would not go against their stand for the sake of Opposition unity.
