New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday responded to the row prompted by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's praise for billionaire Gautam Adani, saying that the state government has not given him "any preferential treatment".
"Mr Adani gave a proposal of Rs 60,000 crores to Rajasthan, no CM would refuse such a proposal. Rajasthan CM didn't give any preferential treatment to Adani or use his political power to help his (Gautam Adani's) business," Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said in a presser amid the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Karnataka, as quoted by news agency ANI.
"I oppose the fact that the BJP government has made 2-3 people the monopolist in every business in India, I am against this concentration of capital, I am not against businesses or co-operates," the Wayanad MP added, asserting that he opposes monopolies.
"If the Rajasthan government gives business to Adani wrongly, I'll oppose that too," Rahul said, as per news agency PTI.
The remarks come after the BJP mocked the Congress as Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot heaped lavish praise on Gautam Adani, the industrialist Rahul Gandhi often picks to allege that Prime Minister Narendra Modi helps only big businessmen.
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The former Congress president also dismissed the allegation of the Gandhi family looking for a 'remote control' over the party.
"Both the people (Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge) who are standing (in Congress president poll) have position and perspective and are people of statute and understanding. I don't think that either of them will be a remote control," he said on the party presidential election.
Thousands Of Crores And Energy Spent To Shape Me In The Wrong Way: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi also attacked the ruling BJP and the RSS as he alleged that a lot of money and energy was being used to portray him in a wrong manner.
"In my understanding, RSS was helping the British and Savarakar was getting a stipend from the British. BJP was nowhere to be found in the freedom struggle. BJP can't hide such facts. Congress and its leaders fought for freedom," he said, as quoted by ANI.
He further alleged, "I have always stood for a certain idea, that disturbs the BJP and RSS. Thousands of crores of media money and energy have been spent to shape me in a way which is untruthful and wrong. That will continue as that machine is financially rich and well-oiled."
When asked about the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), he responded: "My view is that it doesn't matter who the person spreading hatred is, it doesn't matter which community they come from, spreading hatred and violence is an anti-national act and we'll fight against such people."