Accusing the Enforcement Directorate of taking “implemented directions” from the Modi government, the Congress on Thursday asked when the probe agency would interrogate the Adani group on allegations that the prime minister was taking his case for a project in Sri Lanka.
The allegation follows reports in a section of the media on the matter. This has been denied by the Lankan government as well as the Adani group. Speaking to reporters, Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh also brought up Rahul Gandhi’s questioning by the ED over the past few days and said it was a clear case of maligning his reputation and “merely a political stunt”.
He alleged that all the central agencies have been reduced to the pawn of the hands of the government.
“All these agencies are queuing up to blindfold themselves just to make fun of themselves,” Vallabh said, adding that the claims of the BJP government in the last eight years have been exposed and It’s all about “movements and matter”.
“The Enforcement Directorate can no longer call a reputed agency like ED… (it) is busy taking ‘implemented directions’ from the Modi government,” he alleged.
Vallabh cited reports by the chairman of the state-owned Ceylon Electricity Board in Sri Lanka claiming before a parliamentary panel that the Indian prime minister “accuses Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of allegedly awarding a wind power project to the Adani Group”. pressure” was applied.
“What was their compulsion? Why are the ED and other agencies sleeping on this information?” Congress leader asked.
Vallabh said there are many other instances which require stern action by central agencies, including the ED, but they have chosen the other path.
“Is this corruption case not worth investigating? Which bureaucrats or ministers are you planning to call for investigation? Has the ED ever called anyone from the Adani group, or is there a call to investigate these serious allegations? Is planning? What credibility does an agency like ED have… (it) is on a political witch-hunt but fails in its duty to investigate serious allegations and crimes,” he said.