Adani Row: Ruckus in Parliament; Nationwide Protest by Congress

New Delhi: Due to heavy sloganeering by the opposition MPs demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue, Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue till 2 pm on Monday.

Opposition MPs staged a protest at the Gandhi statue on the Parliament premises.

As per schedule, the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address was to be taken up in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Monday. The Budget Session was adjourned for two days till Monday after repeated disruptions and ruckus by the opposition demanding a debate on the Hindenburg Research’s report against the Adani Group and a probe by a JPC.

The opposition parties want discussion over investment by LIC, Public Sector Banks, and financial institutions “in companies losing market value, endangering the savings of crores of Indians”. A January 24 report by Hindenburg Research claimed that the Adani Group had weak business fundamentals, and was involved in stock manipulation and accounting fraud. This report triggered a massive fall in the price of shares of Adani Group companies.

Meanwhile, on Monday Congress took up a countrywide protest in front of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) offices and State Bank of India (SBI) branches to protest against the alleged Adani scam.

The first half of the Budget session will continue till February 13 and the second half will be held from March 13 to April 6. The budget session began with an address by President Droupadi Murmu. Union Budget was presented on February 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.