Dressed in black, opposition MPs stage protest over Adani issue, Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification

New Delhi, March 27 (PTI) A number of opposition MPs, dressed in black, took out a rally from Parliament to Vijay Chowk on Monday to protest against the government over the Adani issue and Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
Protesters including Congress MP Sonia Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge gathered near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament complex and raised slogans against the government.
Carrying a large banner reading “Satyamev Jayate” and placards reading “Save Democracy”, the MPs marched towards Vijay Chowk where they staged a blockade.

“How Adani’s wealth has grown so much in the last few years.

How many times have you taken the businessman while traveling abroad. The Prime Minister has not been able to answer the questions raised against Adani,” Kharge said. Journalists at Vijay Chowk.

“We want a JPC on the Adani issue. Why is the government not agreeing to this? Why are you afraid of a JPC inquiry… It means ‘dal mein kuch kala hai’ (something is wrong),” he said.

Opposition parties have been demanding a parliamentary joint committee probe into allegations of corporate fraud and share price manipulation against the Adani Group.
After a Surat court convicted Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case in 2019, he became an MP. Kharge also raised the issue of disqualification from office.

“You want to defame Rahul Gandhi, that’s why you shifted the case to Gujarat when the comment was made in Kolar, Karnataka. Today is a black day for democracy,” Kharge said.

Kharge said opposition MPs are wearing black as the prime minister is “ending” democracy.
The Trinamool Congress, which has so far kept aloof from opposition protests, went on a sit-in on Monday.
Earlier, MPs from various opposition parties including Congress, TMC, PRS, SP met at the Parliament premises and discussed the Adani issue and the strategy to take forward the Rahul Gandhi disqualification issue in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.