'Heads Of States Don't Discuss Individuals': PM Modi Tells US Media On Adani Question

On Friday, when asked if anything related to the matter was a point of discussion during his meeting with the American President Donald Trump, the Indian PM completely ruled out the possibility.

Notably, both India and US have agreed to finalise the negotiations for a trade deal this year.

Source : PTI

During his visit to the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was questioned about the bribery allegations laid against Gautam Adani by the US prosecutors. On Friday, when asked if anything related to the matter was a point of discussion during his meeting with the American President Donald Trump, the Indian PM completely ruled out the possibility.

Replying to the media, he said, “India is a democracy and our culture is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', we consider the whole world as one family. I believe every Indian is mine. However, two heads of states never meet or talk about such individual issues.”

Notably, both India and US have agreed to finalise the negotiations for a trade deal this year, and aim to increase the overall bilateral trade to $500 million by 2030.

Opposition Reacts

This reply, however, didn’t do down too well with Rahul Gandhi. The politician criticised the PM for maintaining silence on the issue. Taking to his social media, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, “If you ask questions in the country, there is silence. If you ask abroad, it is a personal matter! Even in America, Modi ji covered Adani ji's corruption! When filling a friend's pocket is ‘nation building’ for Modi ji, then bribery and looting the country's property becomes a ‘personal matter’.”

देश में सवाल पूछो तो चुप्पी,
विदेश में पूछो तो निजी मामला!

अमेरिका में भी मोदी जी ने अडानी जी के भ्रष्टाचार पर पर्दा डाल दिया!

जब मित्र का जेब भरना मोदी जी के लिए “राष्ट्र निर्माण” है, तब रिश्वतखोरी और देश की संपत्ति को लूटना “व्यक्तिगत मामला” बन जाता है।

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 14, 2025

Bribery Allegations Against Adani

The US prosecutors have alleged that Gautam Adani helped arrange bribes of more than $250 million to officials in India and defraud US investors. In an indictment revealed in November, the prosecutors claimed that the businessman was part of a scheme to 'corruptly offer, authorise, promise to pay and to pay bribes' of hundreds of millions of dollars to government officials in India in exchange of favourable terms for solar power contracts. This information was allegedly hidden from the US banks and investors from whom the conglomerate raised billions of dollars for the project. The Adani Group has vehemently denied the allegations.