Union Home minister Amit Shah has categorically stated that the BJP has “nothing to hide or be afraid of” after the Congress accused the ruling party of favouring business tycoon Gautam Adani.

Union Home minister Amit Shah said the BJP has nothing to be afraid of amid the evolving Adani row. (PTI photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Union Home minister Amit Shah has categorically stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has “nothing to hide or be afraid of” after the Congress accused the ruling party of favouring business tycoon Gautam Adani.

Maintaining that it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to comment on the ongoing row following the meltdown of Adani stocks due to the matter being sub judice, Amit Shah nevertheless launched a spirited defence of the BJP as it is buffeted by allegations of favouritism and crony capitalism.

“The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the matter. As a minister, if the Supreme Court is seized of the matter, it is not right for me to comment. But in this, there is nothing for the BJP to hide and nothing to be afraid of,” Shah told news agency ANI.

The BJP stalwart’s reaction came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi linked Adani’s meteoric rise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi coming to power and said “magic” happened after 2014, which propelled the businessman from the 609th to the second spot on the global rich list.

Gandhi levelled a barrage of allegations, including that PM Modi helped Adani bag overseas contracts in various sectors. He also asked how much money Adani has given to the BJP in the last 20 years, including through electoral bonds.

READ | Attacked on Adani issue, PM Modi counters Opposition with UPA-era scams

Targeting the Congress, Shah pointed out that the party had made similar allegations against the Centre when the Pegasus spyware row erupted. He challenged the Congress to furnish evidence of their claims in court.

“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. Court toh humaare kabze mein nahin hai (The courts are not under our control),” he said.

US short-seller firm Hindenburg Research’s report on the Adani group’s business practices and the resulting rout in the conglomerate’s stocks set off a political showdown as a united opposition attacked the BJP-led Centre and PM Modi over their alleged ties to its founder, Gautam Adani.

Opposition parties have raised questions over the investment by LIC and other public sector banks in the Adani group. The government has rejected the allegations.

Shares in Adani Group’s seven companies lost more than $100 billion in market value since the January 24 report by Hindenburg Research, which accused it of improper use of offshore tax havens and stock manipulation.

Adani has denied the charges, calling it a “maliciously mischievous” reputational attack. The group’s flagship entity Adani Enterprises pulled its secondary share offering, India’s largest ever, because of the sharp sell-off.