New Delhi: The Congress Friday took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark that “personal matters” do not figure in conversations between heads of state while responding to a question on industrialist Gautam Adani at a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump.
Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said Modi’s response amounted to “covering up” the businessman’s “corruption”.
“If you ask questions in the country, there is silence. If you ask abroad, it is a personal matter! Even in America, Modi Ji covered up Adani Ji’s corruption! When filling a friend’s pocket is ‘nation building’ for Modi Ji, then taking bribes and looting the nation’s wealth becomes a ‘personal matter’,” he posted on X.
देश में सवाल पूछो तो चुप्पी,
विदेश में पूछो तो निजी मामला!अमेरिका में भी मोदी जी ने अडानी जी के भ्रष्टाचार पर पर्दा डाल दिया!
जब मित्र का जेब भरना मोदी जी के लिए “राष्ट्र निर्माण” है, तब रिश्वतखोरी और देश की संपत्ति को लूटना “व्यक्तिगत मामला” बन जाता है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 14, 2025
At the press conference, an American journalist asked Trump and Modi if they had discussed the “case of Gautam Adani” during their talks at the White House.
“Can I ask whether you discussed at all today the case of Gautam Adani, who’s one of the wealthiest men in Asia and perceived as an ally of Prime Minister Modi?” the reporter asked. “Prime Minister Modi, have you asked the President to take action on that case,” the reporter specifically turned to Modi.
In his response, Modi initially spoke about India’s democratic and cultural traditions, and went on to assert that “personal matters” were not discussed during such bilateral conversations.
“Firstly, India is a democratic country. And our culture and tradition is of vasudhaiva kutumbakam. We consider the whole world as one family. I consider every Indian as mine. The second thing is that for such personal matters, heads of two nations do not meet or sit or discuss,” Modi said.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh also taunted Modi over his response.
“Modi ji’s face turned pale upon hearing Adani’s name. Then he beat around the bush and gave irrelevant knowledge and said — this is a personal matter. Since when has corruption become a personal matter?” Ramesh posted on X.
मोदी जी के चेहरे का रंग उड़ गया अडानी का नाम सुनते ही
फिर घुमा फिराकर, असंगत ज्ञान देकर बोले – ये व्यक्तिगत मामला है
भ्रष्टाचार व्यक्तिगत मामला कबसे हो गया? pic.twitter.com/8TL3MyYdyc
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 14, 2025
In November 2024, US federal prosecutors charged the Adani Group chairman, his nephew Sagar, and six others in an alleged bribery and fraud scheme. The Adani Group rejected the allegations as baseless.
“As alleged, the defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars and Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani and Vneet S. Jaain lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from U.S. and international investors,” stated United States Attorney Peace in the indictment.
Jaain is the managing director and CEO of Adani Green Energy.
The US Attorney’s Office had also said in a press statement that the charges were allegations and that the defendants were presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Incidentally, after taking charge, Trump paused the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) under which Adani was indicted until the legislation underwent a review.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: After initial cheer, India ‘jittery’ about US under Trump & ‘global charm offensive’ by OpenAI
