‘No preferential treatment given to Gautam Adani’

Rahul Gandhi. File Pic

A day after Gautam Adani pledged huge investments in Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that the Congress government in the state has not given any preferential treatment to the industrialist and asserted that he is not against corporates but monopolies. Addressing a press conference, Gandhi also said if the Rajasthan government gives business to Adani wrongly, he will oppose that.

The BJP mocked the Congress on Friday after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot lavished praise on Adani, the industrialist Gandhi often picks to allege that Prime Minister Narendra Modi helps only big businessmen.

Asked about Adani's presence at a Rajasthan government event and the industrialist pledging investments in the state, the former Congress chief said, "Mr Adani has committed Rs 60,000 crore to Rajasthan. No chief minister can refuse such an offer. In fact, it would not be correct for a chief minister to refuse such an offer."

"My contention is in the use of political power to help certain chosen businesses. My opposition is to two, three or four large businesses being helped politically to monopolise every single business in this country," he said, adding, "I am in no way against the corporates, I am in no way against business, but I am against the complete monopolisation of Indian business because that weakens the country."

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Meanwhile, Adani announced a whopping Rs 65,000-crore investment in Rajasthan over the next five to seven years - setting up a 10,000-MW solar power facility, expanding cement plants and upgrading the Jaipur International Airport.

‘Adani, Ambani or Shah, we welcome all'

Rajashtan CM Ashok Gehlot and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani during the Invest Rajasthan Summit 2022 in Jaipur. Pic/PTI

Condemning the BJP for mocking the Congress after he lavished praise on industrialist Gautam Adani, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said it was not a private programme and 3,000 delegates attended it. "In such a situation, why do they want to create a hurdle? I condemn these people. They talked about Gautam Adani yesterday [Friday]. Be it Gautam Adani or any Adani, or Ambani or Amit Shah's son Jay Shah, we will welcome all of them here. We want employment, we want investment," said Gehlot, who addressed the business tycoon as "Gautam bhai" in his inaugural speech and congratulated him for becoming the world's second richest person.

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