In a strongly worded address on October 18, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised concerns regarding the escalating coal prices in India. He asserted that the Adani Group’s involvement in over-invoicing coal imports has directly impacted the people of the nation by driving up electricity bills.
Gandhi disclosed that the unaccounted amount, previously estimated at ₹20,000 crore, has now surged by an additional ₹12,000 crore, resulting in a staggering total of ₹32,000 crore. He based his claims on a report published by the Financial Times in London, which details Adani’s alleged role in the surging coal prices.
The Congress leader emphasized that this issue revolves around power, electricity bills, and what he described as “theft.” However, he criticized the Indian media for failing to ask critical questions, stating that such a revelation would have serious consequences for any government worldwide. He insisted that this constitutes a direct act of theft by an individual who enjoys protection from the Prime Minister of India.
Gandhi questioned why the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had not been able to find documents implicating the Adani Group, especially when the Financial Times in London had access to such evidence. He suggested that this situation indicates a high-level shield of protection.
Discussing the power subsidy provided by the Karnataka Government, Gandhi revealed that the Congress government in Karnataka had introduced power subsidies and had promised similar measures in Madhya Pradesh. However, it has now become apparent that the surging power bills can be attributed to the over-invoicing of imported coal used for power generation.
In conclusion, Rahul Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate an investigation into the allegations against Mr. Adani. He stressed the importance of defending the government’s credibility and maintaining transparency in addressing this issue.
