New Delhi: Union Finance Minister nirmala sitharaman took a dig on Tuesday Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Reacting to his “double A and A1, A2” jibe at the BJP-led NDA government, he reminded the Congress leader of his recent achievement. Vizhinjam International Port Its first mothership ‘San Fernando’ was welcomed in Kerala.
Rahul has often accused the Narendra Modi government of favouring businessmen. gautam adani And Mukesh Ambani had referred to the two as “double A” and “A1” and “A2” during his recent speeches in the Lok Sabha after Speaker Om Birla objected to naming individuals in Parliament who are not members of the House.
What did Sitharaman say?
Sitharaman today took a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks and said, “India’s first trans-shipment port, we all celebrated when a very big ship arrived at Vizhinjam port. The Kerala government, the Congress government gave it, and nobody, who were talking about double A and A1 and A2, questioned it.” Kerala Government When the Vizhinjam port was given on the invitation of one of these investors.”
So then, what is the connection?
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of Oommen Chandy had signed an agreement with Adani Ports and SEZ Pvt Ltd for the mega project in 2015.
The project was allotted to APSEZ on December 5, 2015 after the Concession Agreement was signed between the Kerala Government and Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL) on August 17, 2015.
The Kerala government has contributed about Rs 5,595 crore for the port and the central government has contributed Rs 818 crore. Built under public-private partnership, the construction of Vizhinjam International Port began in 2016.
Congress, CPM Competition to take credit for Adani-related project
After the first mother ship arrived earlier this month, Kerala Congress president K Sudhakaran took credit on behalf of the party and said the port became a reality only because of the “willpower” of Oommen Chandy, who passed away in July 2023. “Vijayan should apologise to the people of Kerala. The CPM tried to kill the project. It is ridiculous to see him trying to take credit for the port. There is an attempt to hide Chandy’s role in making the port a reality,” Sudhakaran said.
The ruling CPM in Kerala, which was in the opposition at the time, had kept a distance from the inauguration of the port construction and alleged that the port project was a “dubious deal”. Before the 2016 assembly elections, the CPM had termed the Vizhinjam project as “plunder of the sea by the Adani Group”.
Nine years later, Vijayan, now the chief minister of Kerala, took a U-turn, saying, “We have to understand that Kerala is opening a new chapter in the history of its development. This is a proud moment for Kerala.
Vijayan also praised adani group and added, “The Adani Group, the builder and operator of the port, deserves praise for its efforts to bring this project to completion. The Vizhinjam Port is an example of a successful public-private partnership, highlighting the potential of collaborative development. Join us in celebrating this historic achievement, which marks a new era of progress and prosperity for Kerala.”
Clearly, Sitharaman was targeting this contradictory stance within the opposition camp, especially in the context of Rahul Gandhi, who never misses an opportunity to attack the government for siding with the two businessmen even as his party negotiates with them at the state level.
Rahul has often accused the Narendra Modi government of favouring businessmen. gautam adani And Mukesh Ambani had referred to the two as “double A” and “A1” and “A2” during his recent speeches in the Lok Sabha after Speaker Om Birla objected to naming individuals in Parliament who are not members of the House.
What did Sitharaman say?
Sitharaman today took a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks and said, “India’s first trans-shipment port, we all celebrated when a very big ship arrived at Vizhinjam port. The Kerala government, the Congress government gave it, and nobody, who were talking about double A and A1 and A2, questioned it.” Kerala Government When the Vizhinjam port was given on the invitation of one of these investors.”
So then, what is the connection?
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of Oommen Chandy had signed an agreement with Adani Ports and SEZ Pvt Ltd for the mega project in 2015.
The project was allotted to APSEZ on December 5, 2015 after the Concession Agreement was signed between the Kerala Government and Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL) on August 17, 2015.
The Kerala government has contributed about Rs 5,595 crore for the port and the central government has contributed Rs 818 crore. Built under public-private partnership, the construction of Vizhinjam International Port began in 2016.
Congress, CPM Competition to take credit for Adani-related project
After the first mother ship arrived earlier this month, Kerala Congress president K Sudhakaran took credit on behalf of the party and said the port became a reality only because of the “willpower” of Oommen Chandy, who passed away in July 2023. “Vijayan should apologise to the people of Kerala. The CPM tried to kill the project. It is ridiculous to see him trying to take credit for the port. There is an attempt to hide Chandy’s role in making the port a reality,” Sudhakaran said.
The ruling CPM in Kerala, which was in the opposition at the time, had kept a distance from the inauguration of the port construction and alleged that the port project was a “dubious deal”. Before the 2016 assembly elections, the CPM had termed the Vizhinjam project as “plunder of the sea by the Adani Group”.
Nine years later, Vijayan, now the chief minister of Kerala, took a U-turn, saying, “We have to understand that Kerala is opening a new chapter in the history of its development. This is a proud moment for Kerala.
Vijayan also praised adani group and added, “The Adani Group, the builder and operator of the port, deserves praise for its efforts to bring this project to completion. The Vizhinjam Port is an example of a successful public-private partnership, highlighting the potential of collaborative development. Join us in celebrating this historic achievement, which marks a new era of progress and prosperity for Kerala.”
Clearly, Sitharaman was targeting this contradictory stance within the opposition camp, especially in the context of Rahul Gandhi, who never misses an opportunity to attack the government for siding with the two businessmen even as his party negotiates with them at the state level.
