“I’m Not Allergic To Ambanis And Adanis”: Shashi Tharoor
On the businessman, Gautam Adani’s announcement to invest 65,000 crores in the northern state over the next five years, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday reiterated what his party’s chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot had remarked.
At the Invest Rajasthan Summit earlier this week, Mr. Gehlot had greeted Mr. Adani, the richest man in Asia, who had just outlined his group’s commercial aspirations for the state.
An audience member questioned Mr. Tharoor on his opinion of India’s economic development during an NDTV exclusive townhall on the Congress President race on Sunday in Mumbai. The inquiries also made reference to Congressman Rahul Gandhi’s repeated criticisms of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly favoring powerful businessmen.
Mr. Tharoor replied, “The real Congress says, and Mr. Gehlot has said it, that if somebody is willing to come and invest in my state, create jobs, bring up revenue, of course, I want it. That was my attitude when Mr. Adani bid for the airport in Thiruvananthapuram. He won fair and square and we should cooperate with him. And that’s certainly what happened in my own constituency.”
“Look, I am somebody in the Congress party, who has very much welcomed the liberalization of 1991. I am very much in favor of business in our country not being overregulated as they are right now. But at the same time I want the revenues coming from this to be available to the government to distribute to those who are marginalized and left out,” Mr. Tharoor said.
On the constant attacks by the opposition party on “Adani and Ambani” getting alleged favorable treatment from PM Modi, Mr. Tharoor said, “I am not allergic to Adanis, Ambanis or any other Anis who are willing to serve the interest of the people of my country, by investing in my country, generating jobs for Indians.”
In Rajasthan, even as Mr. Gehlot sat next to Mr. Adani during the business event, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi continued to tweet allegations about loans being waived for “capitalist friends” of the government while others were living in debt.
Thanks so much for your support @PriyaDutt_INC ! https://t.co/LhxEQVNehK
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 10, 2022
