Pawar says opposition unity important, NCP won’t oppose JPC probe into Adani if allies insist

NCP chief sparked controversy last week when he spoke in support of Adani Group, saying there was no need for JPC probe into allegations when SC had appointed its own committee.

File photo of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar | ANI

Mumbai: After breaking ranks with other opposition parties over their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into allegations against the Adani Group, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar tried to mend fences Tuesday by saying he wouldn’t oppose such an inquiry for the sake of opposition unity. 

Speaking to Marathi television news channel ABP Majha Tuesday, Pawar said his opinion may be different from that of his allies, but there is consensus on wanting to maintain opposition unity.

“We are not in agreement with their (Congress and other opposition parties demanding a JPC) opinion, but to ensure that opposition unity is not hampered, we will not insist (on not having a JPC probe),” he said.

The opposition parties, led by the Congress, have been demanding a JPC probe into allegations made by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research against the Adani Group, claiming that the Modi government is protecting Adani. Hindenburg in its January report had accused the Adani Group of stock manipulation and other malpractices. 

Last week, the NCP chief triggered a controversy when he spoke in support of the Adani Group in an interview with television news channel NDTV, which happens to be owned by the Gujarat-based conglomerate.

Speaking to NDTV on the controversy, Pawar said it seemed as if an “individual industrial group of the country was targeted”, and that there was no need for a JPC probe since the Supreme Court had announced a committee to investigate the matter.

‘Pawar not opposed to probing allegations against Adani’

Speaking to ThePrint Monday, NCP Rajya Sabha MP Majeed Memon said Pawar’s “implied support to Adani may be due to his personal relationships outside of political compulsions”. Pawar and industrialist Gautam Adani have been known to be close to each other. 

He also said that Pawar was not opposed to probing allegations that the government has been “unduly and undeservedly kind to Adani, causing loss to the exchequer”.

“The only difference of opinion is that he believes in the authenticity of the probe of the committee appointed by the Supreme Court over the JPC, to which the opposition leaders do not subscribe,” Memon added.

(Edited by Geethalakshmi Ramanathan)