“Nothing for BJP to hide and be afraid of”: Amit Shah on Hindenburg-Adani row

With the opposition hammering the BJP-led government over the Hindenburg-Adani issue, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that it will not be right for him to comment as the Supreme Court has taken note of the case but there is nothing “for the BJP to hide or be scared of”.

“The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the matter. As a minister, if the Supreme Court is seized of the matter it is not right for me to comment. But in this, there is nothing for the BJP to hide and nothing to be afraid of,” Shah said.

The Hindenburg-Adani spat has erupted into a huge political squabble, with the Congress and other opposition parties accusing the administration of favouritism and crony business. They highlighted the issue during parliament’s budget session, seeking a joint parliamentary committee investigation. On the subject, the opposition parties have also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

They have raised concerns about LIC and other public sector banks’ investments in the Adani group. The government has denied the charges, and PSUs and regulatory organisations have issued comments stating that they are following the rules and fulfilling their responsibilities. Following Hindenburg’s report on Adani Group, the Centre notified the Supreme Court on Monday that SEBI has consented to create a committee to defend investor interests.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that SEBI is well prepared to deal with the scenario that arose as a result of a recent Hindenburg Research study. Mehta also stated that the government has no objection to forming a committee to recommend ways to protect investors in the future.

However, he stated that the committee’s mandate is significant since it has a worldwide impact, and that the government will release names under a sealed cover. When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s recent Lok Sabha address, which was virtually completely about the Adani group, Shah said it is up to the Congress leader or his script writers to determine what speech he wants to deliver.

“What speech he wants to give is for him or his speech writers to think,” he said.

Shah responded to Rahul Gandhi’s accusation of “crony capitalism” against the BJP.  “There is no question. Nobody has been able to level such allegation against the BJP till date. During their (Congress) era, agencies be it CAG or CBI, they had registered cases taking cognizance of corruption. There were scams of Rs 12 lakh crore.”

When asked about the claims made by the Congress and other opposition parties that the BJP is “grabbing institutions,” Shah replied they should go to court, stressing that courts are not influenced by the BJP.

“Court ‘humare kabze mein nahi hai,” he said.

“Why don’t they go to the court? Even at the time when Pegasus issue was raised, I had said go with proofs to the court… They only know how to create noise. Those who approached the court, the court took cognizance of Pegasus and also delivered its judgement. The investigation was also done,” he added.

When asked about BJP spokespersons implying a “plot” before of elections, he said it was up to them to respond. “Thousands of conspiracies cannot harm the truth. Truth shines bright like the sun. They have been doing it since 2002 against PM Narendra Modi. And every time, he has emerged stronger, truthfully and by gaining more popularity among people every time,” he said when asked if there is a conspiracy in the wake of Hindenburg report and BBC documentary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre in his speech to the Lok Sabha in response to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s address, saying it turned “every opportunity into a crisis” during its ten years in power between 2004 and 2014. PM Modi described the UPA’s tenure as “full of scams” from 2004 to 2014.