Shrinate slams BJP, PM for allegedly shielding Adani, indirectly funding Soros in India

New Delhi: “If George Soros was indulging in anti-India activities, why has the Government of India not shut down his businesses in India, or closed funds backed by him or funded the UN fund that gives grants to Soros or written to the US government seeking his extradition to take action against him?” asked Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here on Tuesday, the chairperson of Social and Digital Platforms hit back at the BJP’s allegations of ‘Soros funding’ within the Congress.

She explained how ‘the individuals linked with Soros shared a dais with prime minister Narendra Modi’ and how it is the current Government of India in power that is actually ‘indirectly funding Soros’.

‘PM Modi shielding Adani’

Speaking about the US indictment against Gautam Adani and the Adani Group, Supriya Shrinate alleged that the BJP and the PM were attempting to shield and protect Gautam Adani. “Because of this, they had not only put national interests at stake but were also preventing the Parliament from functioning,” she said.

Reiterating her party’s demand for a probe into Adani’s dealings and the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for the purpose, Shrinate said that the BJP was ‘relentlessly trying to save Adani.’ She asked, “To what extent are you going to save him? Have you decided that Parliament will not function?”

Criticising the BJP for attempting to hide behind the name of George Soros, the Congress spokesperson asked, “If he is indeed running an anti-India agenda, what are you doing to shut him down in India?”

Shrinate ‘links’ BJP leaders to George Soros

Shrinate said that Soros’ Open Society Foundation receives funding from the UN Democracy Fund for 68 projects worldwide.

Alleging that India is the fourth-largest donor to the UN Democracy Fund, ‘which, in turn, supports Soros’ foundation’, she said that, over the last eight years, India has contributed $900,000 to the UN Democracy Fund.

She added that Soros first began operations in India in 1999, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, and, at the time, he only provided fellowships and scholarships. However, she claimed that his grant programmes began in 2014.

Overseas connections to Soros

Shrinate also claimed that Gaurav Hinduja and Shashank Rishyasringa—strong admirers of PM Modi and his policies like demonetisation—have founded Capital Float, now known as Axio, which received funding from Soros-backed Aspada.

“They have invested $300 mn across 40,000 small businesses, startups etc. She further noted that Rishyasringa is married to the granddaughter of Viren Shah, a former BJP treasurer and West Bengal Governor, and their wedding was attended by LK Advani and Devendra Fadnavis,” she said.

“If Soros is running an anti-India agenda, how is his money flowing into Indian startups, small ventures, and other funds?” Shrinate asked.

Shrinate accuses BJP of spreading fake news

Referring to BJP allegations against the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Shrinate argued that the ruling party was angered because the OCCRP had exposed how 13 per cent of the public float in four Adani-listed entities was held by Chang Chung-Ling and Nasser Ali Shaban Ahli, aides of Vinod Adani.

She further said that the OCCRP also revealed how coal prices were ‘inflated by the two individuals, leading to a significant increase in electricity costs.’

Shrinate also criticised the BJP for allegedly misquoting the French news organisation Mediapart. She highlighted that Mediapart issued a ‘big fat denial,’ accusing the BJP of spreading fake news and clarifying that it had never published the articles the BJP was referencing. In the same vein, she mocked the BJP for quoting Mediapart now, despite having dismissed its report on the Rafale deal in the past.

She asserted that the BJP is using all possible tricks to shield Adani, who should be probed by agencies over allegations of fraud and bribery, for which the Department of Justice in the US has issued a warrant against him. “Instead, he is being allowed to shame and bring disrepute to India’s corporate sector, markets and rule of law,” she said.