Houses adjourned again amid ruckus over Soros, Adani issues | India News – Times of India

Row over Adani, Soros issue

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings on Thursday were adjourned for the day amid heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches on the notice to remove Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and George Soros and Adani issues.
Amid ruckus in the Lower House, Speaker Om Birla allowed BJP’s Nishikant Dubey to speak. Dubey attacked Congress leadership for their alleged connection with Soros, and the latter allegedly having financed the Gandhis through donations made to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and other trusts linked to the Gandhis. “What’s RGF and Sonia Gandhi’s relationship with Soros?” he asked.
Dubey said opposition is trying to muzzle his voice as he is trying to raise these issues. “What connection does Sonia Gandhi have with FDL-AP (Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia-Pacific), which is anti-India and advocates Kashmir as a separate country?” he asked amid din. BJP had earlier claimed Sonia is connected to the organisation which is funded by Soros-backed outfits.
Quoting the Nambiar committee report, Dubey alleged that Sam Pitroda, a close associate of the Gandhis, had been accused of irregularities of Rs 150 crore. Pitroda and his Global Knowledge Initiative (GKI) is funded by Soros and US development agencies, he claimed, adding that all of Rahul’s overseas visits are “sponsored by GKI”.
“Pitroda, GKI, Soros and Rahul, what connections do they have?” the BJP MP said as he claimed that investments were made by Soros, during UPA-1 and UPA-2, in the share market and these made huge gains.
The morning session of the Upper House began with chairman Dhankhar, rejecting six notices from opposition, seeking adjournment of scheduled business. This triggered objections from opposition benches, prompting BJP MP J P Nadda to accuse leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge of undermining the chair’s authority. Referring to a recent press conference by Kharge, he said, “Criticising the chair outside the House is also objectionable and condemnable.”
The BJP MP also reignited allegations of a link between Congress and Soros, accusing the hedge fund tycoon of funding efforts to destabilise India.
This triggered a noisy protest from the opposition benches, which raised slogans against PM Narendra Modi and businessman Gautam Adani.
In the post-lunch session, TMC MP Derek O’Brien raised a point of order, which was drowned out by din. The chairman ultimately adjourned Rajya Sabha for the day.