KARACHI: Indian Prime Minister Modi is such selfish person that if it was only matter of friendship, he would have sidelined Gautam Adani in two minutes. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in his verbal assault against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his last week's speech at Delhi Assembly.

According to session video being circulated on social media during ongoing Delhi budget session, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief took dig at Modi by questioning his connection to Indian conglomerate Gautam Adani and leveling series of charges. Kejriwal charged Adani, who has been accused of alleged financial irregularities by Hindenburg report, of being a frontman for Modi, who is real person to have accumulated wealth.

"If Joint Parliamentary Committee is formed, Adani will not sink, Modiji will sink. Narendra Modi did nothing for his family but did so much for his friend," he said, adding "Adani is just front; Modi's money is invested in Adani. He is Modi's manager and he gets 10-15 percent commission, rest belongs to Modiji," Kejriwal said in Delhi Assembly. Kejriwal alleged that Prime Minister Modi has desire to become wealthiest person on planet. "It is said that day Adani becomes second richest man in world, Modi will aspire to become richest man in world," he said. AAP leader also accused Adani of securing wind project in Sri Lanka by putting pressure on Rajapaksa during Modi's visit to Sri Lanka.

"Adani also won 1500 MW electricity supply contract for 25 years in Bangladesh, but Modi ensured that he got it for himself," he added. It has been more than two months since US-based short seller Hindenburg Research released its report alleging that Adani Group was involved in stock manipulation, accounting fraud and corporate governance lapses. Fallout of this report was group halting some investments, cutting down on capital expenditure and considering different approach towards financing its projects, according to Bloomberg. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 19 2023

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