The cost of electricity bills for an average consumer has gone up because of “over-invoicing” of coal imports from Indonesia by the Adani group, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged on Wednesday, quoting a recent report of the London-based Financial Times (FT).
Mr. Gandhi wondered why the Narendra Modi Government had not ordered an inquiry against the Adani Group despite so many allegations of wrongdoing against it.
“Come clean, start an investigation. Defend your credibility,” he said.
The former Congress chief, who stepped out of a meeting that was deciding candidates for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections, also answered a question on NCP President Sharad Pawar taking a different position on the issue from rest of the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc.
“Sharad Pawar is not the Prime Minister of India, he is not protecting Adani ji,” Mr. Gandhi said.
Mr. Gandhi said earlier he had accused the Adani group of siphoning of ₹20,000 crore but after FT’s investigation, the figure is revised upward to ₹32,000 crore including ₹12,000 crore because of alleged over-invoicing of coal imports.
“This is direct theft by the man who is protected by the Prime Minister of India again and again,” he alleged.
The Congress leader not only questioned the “silence” of the Indian media on the Adani story but also wondered why Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) can’t find documents against the group when FT could.
Mr. Gandhi said said the Congress government in Karnataka is giving power subsidy to protect consumers and has offered a similar promise for the upcoming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh but the actual reason for inflated bills are because of over-invoicing.
“Brothers and sisters, and the youth, you should know that every time a poor man turn the switch on to run a fan or a bulb, the money directly goes to [Gautam] Adani’s pockets,” Mr. Gandhi said, directly addressing the public through the press conference.
He also asserted that if Opposition parties form a government at the Centre, there will definitely be an inquiry against the Adani group.
However, when he was asked if Congress-ruled States would launch such inquiries against the Adani group if they are operating in the power sector in those States, he said, “That’s an interesting idea. We will look into it”.
