Rahul Gandhi said- I went to Parliament this morning with the idea of
putting what I have said, what I feel on the floor of the house. Four Ministers
have raised allegations against me in Parliament House. It is my right to be
allowed to speak on the floor of the house. I requested to the speaker today. I
went to his chamber and I requested him. I said- look, I would very much like to
speak. I told him that people from the BJP have made allegations against me and
as a Member of Parliament, it is my right to speak.
He was non-committal. In his way, he smiled, but, I am hopeful that I will be
allowed to speak tomorrow. What is going on here -this story started, the day I
gave my speech in Parliament about Mr. Adani. I asked some fundamental
questions to the Prime Minister about his relationship with the businessman,
about how Mr. Adani has been given pretty much the entire India-Israel defence
relationship?
How he is being given the Bombay Airport, other Airports, how rules have been
changed to allow him to be given these things. What happened in Australia
between the Prime Minister, Mr. Adani and the Chairman of the State Bank and
one of the Chief Ministers of one of the states in Australia. It is a picture that is
visible to everybody, why is the Prime Minister of India sitting with the State
Bank Chairman, Mr. Adani, and an Australian leader? What is he discussing and
why, after that discussion is almost a billion dollars pledge by the State Bank to
Mr. Adani? What was said in Sri Lanka? Why a person made a statement saying-
Mr. Rajapaksa told him that Mr. Adani was given the contract and it was
basically Mr. Modi who told him, the same in Bangladesh.
So, these are relevant questions and the whole idea is that these questions must
not be under table and that is why, this whole exercise or four or five Ministers,
Prime Minister is giving a speech to distract from this fundamental question
which is, what is the relationship between the Prime Minister of India and Mr.
Adani and his companies and more importantly, whose money is in the shell
companies? Who is this unknown person, whose money is in the shell
companies? What is his relationship with Mr. Adani? These are the questions.
I would like to go into the details with you. I am a Member of Parliament and I
am hopeful that I will be allowed to speak in Parliament. So, I would like to first
place my statement on the floor of the house and after that I will be happy to
have whatever discussion, you want with me.
Unfortunately for you, I am a Member of Parliament and as the allegation has
been made in Parliament by four ministers, it is my right to have the
opportunity. It is my democratic right.
So, if Indian democracy was functioning, I would be able to say my piece in
Parliament. So, actually what you are seeing, is a test of Indian democracy. After
four leaders of the BJP have made an allegation about a Member of Parliament, is
that Member of Parliament going to be given the same space that those four
Ministers have been given or is he going to be told to shut-up? That’s what the
real question in front of this country is right now.
Sd/-
Secretary
Communication Deptt
AICC
