Opposition MPs wear black in protest against Adani issue and Rahul Gandhi's disqualification

New Delhi: Opposition MPs on Monday wore black clothes and marched from parliament to Vijay Chowk to protest against the BJP government over the Adani issue and Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha.

Congress leaders including MP Sonia Gandhi and president Mallikarjun Kharge gathered at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament complex and raised slogans. They also held a banner reading 'Satyamev Jayate' and placards with 'save democracy'. At Vijay Chowk, they staged a sit-in.

Trinamool Congress also joined in on the sit-in. Various Opposition parties - Congress, TMC, BRS, and SP - met at the Parliament complex to discuss a strategy.

Speaking to the media, Congress chief Kharge asked: "How has Adani's wealth multiplied so much in the last few years? When you are going to foreign countries, how many times have you taken the industrialist with you?" He added, "The PM has not been able to give answers to questions raised against Adani. We want a JPC on the Adani issue. Why is the government not agreeing to this? Why are you scared of a JPC probe... it means 'dal mein kuchh kala hai' [something is wrong]." The Adani Group is accused of corporate fraud and stock price manipulations.

He said the BJP wants to defame Rahul Gandhi and transferred the case to Gujarat even though the comments in question were made in Kolar, Karnataka. A court in Surat convicted him in a 2019 criminal defamation case. "Today is a black day for democracy and Opposition MPs are wearing black because the Prime Minister is finishing democracy," said the veteran politician.