Mumbai/IBNS: Veteran Maharashtra politician Sharad Pawar Friday said he doesnt support the views of his ally Congress on the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe on accusations against the Adani Group by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research.
Speaking to NDTV, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief came out strongly in support of the Adani Group and criticised the narrative around Hindenburgs report on the conglomerate.
Out of proportion importance was given to the issue. The issues that were kept, who kept them? We had never heard of these people (Hindenburg) who gave the statement, what is the background? When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the countrys economy, we cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted, Pawar said.
An individual industrial group of the country was targeted, that is what it seems. If they have done anything wrong, there should be an inquiry. A demand for a JPC probe was made in parliament. I had a different viewpoint on this, he said.
JPCs were appointed on many issues. I remember a JPC was appointed once on the issue of Coca-Cola, and I was the chairman. So, a JPC has never been formed earlier, that is not the case. A demand for a JPC is not wrong, but why was the demand made? The demand for a JPC was made to say that some industrial house must be inquired into, Pawar said.
In response tot he Pawars remarks, the Congress party distanced itself.
The NCP may have its view but 19 like-minded parties are convinced that the PM-linked Adani Group issue is real and very serious, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said in a statement.
But all 20 like-minded opposition parties, including the NCP, are united and will be together in saving the Constitution and our democracy from the BJPs assaults and in defeating the BJPs divisive and destructive political, social and economic agenda, Ramesh said.
In the statement, the Congress spokesperson excluded Pawars party from the list of 19 like-minded parties that want a JPC probe into the Adani-Hindenburg row but included the NCP in the list of parties – 20 like-minded parties – that will continue to fight the BJP in the national level.
