NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of the Galwan clashes and the government's alleged favoritism towards the Adani Group . Ramesh questioned the Prime Minister's willingness to waive national security considerations to benefit his close friend and partner, given the Adani Group's alleged involvement in various scams facilitated by individuals like Chang Chung-Ling and Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli.
He emphasised the gravity of these concessions, especially considering the ongoing Chinese occupation of 2,000 square kilometers of Indian territory in eastern Ladakh.
"The Adani Group, a major recipient of taxpayer largesse via the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, has reportedly selected eight Chinese companies to help its solar manufacturing project and has asked for special permission to issue visas for 30 Chinese workers," the Congress general secretary said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
"Having facilitated multiple Modani scams such as coal and power-equipment over-invoicing and the amassing of illegal stakes in Adani Group companies – all executed by individuals like Chang Chung-Ling and Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli," he added.
The Congress leader also highlighted the significant increase in Indian imports from China, which have risen from $70 billion in 2018-19 to a record $101 billion in 2023-24. He pointed out that even the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which provides taxpayer subsidies, is benefiting China in sectors like electronics and solar, where PLI beneficiaries are signing large contracts with Chinese vendors.
Ramesh called for a comprehensive strategy to reduce India's dependence on China and ensure that taxpayer funds do not benefit Chinese companies. He criticized the Prime Minister for prioritizing his friends' interests over the national interest and urged that such actions should not be allowed to become national policy.
"It is time for a proper strategy to wean India off dependence on China, and to ensure that taxpayer funds do not benefit Chinese companies. Prioritising his friends over the national interest may be second nature to the PM, but it cannot be allowed to become national policy," Ramesh said.
He pointed out the contradiction between the PM's statement on June 19, 2020, asserting that no one had entered Indian territory, and the current situation where the Adani Group has reportedly requested special permission to issue visas for 30 Chinese workers to assist with its solar manufacturing project.
He emphasised the gravity of these concessions, especially considering the ongoing Chinese occupation of 2,000 square kilometers of Indian territory in eastern Ladakh.
"The Adani Group, a major recipient of taxpayer largesse via the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, has reportedly selected eight Chinese companies to help its solar manufacturing project and has asked for special permission to issue visas for 30 Chinese workers," the Congress general secretary said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
"Having facilitated multiple Modani scams such as coal and power-equipment over-invoicing and the amassing of illegal stakes in Adani Group companies – all executed by individuals like Chang Chung-Ling and Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli," he added.
The Congress leader also highlighted the significant increase in Indian imports from China, which have risen from $70 billion in 2018-19 to a record $101 billion in 2023-24. He pointed out that even the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which provides taxpayer subsidies, is benefiting China in sectors like electronics and solar, where PLI beneficiaries are signing large contracts with Chinese vendors.
Ramesh called for a comprehensive strategy to reduce India's dependence on China and ensure that taxpayer funds do not benefit Chinese companies. He criticized the Prime Minister for prioritizing his friends' interests over the national interest and urged that such actions should not be allowed to become national policy.
"It is time for a proper strategy to wean India off dependence on China, and to ensure that taxpayer funds do not benefit Chinese companies. Prioritising his friends over the national interest may be second nature to the PM, but it cannot be allowed to become national policy," Ramesh said.
He pointed out the contradiction between the PM's statement on June 19, 2020, asserting that no one had entered Indian territory, and the current situation where the Adani Group has reportedly requested special permission to issue visas for 30 Chinese workers to assist with its solar manufacturing project.
