Nothing to hide: Amit Shah on Congress's allegations of BJP 'favouring' Adani

Why don’t they go to court? When Pegasus issue was raised I had said go with proof to court, but they didn't. They only know how to create noise, Shah said

In the first comments by a senior BJP leader on the Adani-Hindenburg issue, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the saffron party has “nothing to hide or be afraid of”.

No one has been able to level any charges against the BJP while there were scams to the tune of Rs 12 lakh crore during the Congress era, Shah said in an interview with news agency ANI.

“The Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the matter (Adani row). So, it is not right for me to comment on the matter. Having said that, I must add, there is nothing for the BJP to hide and nothing to be afraid of,” he said.

The Opposition has been attacking the government over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proximity to Gautam Adani after short-seller firm Hindenburg released a report against the businessman and his conglomerate.

Read | AAP protests outside BJP headquarters over Adani issue

Last week, during a speech in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had posed several questions to the government. Shah said it is for Gandhi’s speech-writers to decide what he chooses to say in his speeches.

Shah also responded to a question whether the Adani controversy, coming close on the heels of BBC’s critical documentary on Modi, is a conspiracy. “They can conspire as much as they want, the truth will come out shining like the sun. They have been after Modiji since 2002, but every single time he has come out clean and his popularity has only increased,” Shah said.

Rahul’s charge of crony capitalism against the BJP has no basis, he said. “No one has been able to level allegations against the BJP till now. During the Congress era, agencies such as CAG or CBI had registered cases taking cognisance of corruption; there were scams of over Rs 12 lakh crore,” Shah claimed.

On the Congress’ charge that the BJP has captured institutions, Shah said they should approach the Supreme Court as courts are not under the BJP’s control. “Why don’t they approach the court? Even when the Pegasus issue was raised, I had said that they must head to the court with proof. The Congress only knows to create noise. The court took cognisance of the issue, investigated the matter and delivered its judgement,” the home minister said.

On the Opposition’s charge of censorship after Rahul’s comments in the Lok Sabha were expunged, Shah said there is a precedent of comments being expunged. “This is not the first time that a member’s comments on the floor of the House were expunged. The history of Parliament proceedings clearly stands proof of it. Parliament is a place to hold discussion under rules, using parliamentary language.”