Epstein files and the Adani case have made the prime minister compromise, alleges the Leader of the Opposition
NEW DELHI – Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scared, frightened and compromised over the apprehension of more revelations yet to be released from the Epstein files and the case against Gautam Adani in the United States.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi, who was again not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha on the President’s Address, said the House had been adjourned for the fourth time since Monday to stop him from speaking. He said the prime minister was scared of him speaking certain things, adding, “which he knows and I know”.
Gandhi said the Naravane (former army chief) issue was only a side story and the main issue was something else which the prime minister was afraid of.
On the trade deal with the United States, Rahul Gandhi alleged that by signing it, the prime minister had sold out the interests of farmers and betrayed their blood and sweat, besides selling out the interests of the entire country. He said the trade deal negotiations had been going on for many months, but had been stalled and the prime minister “signed it only last (Monday) evening for reasons known to him and Modi.”
The Leader of the Opposition hinted at possible further revelations from the Epstein files and said that this and the case against Adani in the US are Prime Minister Modi’s two pressure points. He alleged that the prime minister signed the trade deal under pressure and that it was not in the interest of the country.
Referring to the case against Adani in the US, Gandhi said the target was actually Modi and the BJP, as Adani was directly linked to the BJP’s financial structure. He alleged that the prime minister was under tremendous pressure and that his ‘image balloon’, created after spending thousands of crores of rupees, could burst anytime.
“The issue is not the Naravane statement. It is only a sideshow. He knows and I know. The main thing is that our prime minister is compromised. The people of India have to think who compromised our prime minister and how,” Gandhi said.
He added that for the first time in the country’s history, the Leader of the Opposition was not being allowed to speak in the House during discussion on the President’s Address.
“The country should understand that the prime minister is compromised,” he said.
Earlier, Gandhi tabled an article related to the memoirs of General Naravane about the 2020 Ladakh face-off with China in the House.
Despite this, he was interrupted and not allowed to speak, with the presiding officer adjourning the House for the fourth time since Monday.
Gandhi also objected to the word “permission” used by the presiding officer in reference to him speaking, saying the Leader of the Opposition is entitled to speak in the House.
