Congress Protests in Parliament with Roses, Tricolours Amid Ongoing Adani Bribery Debate

The Congress party continued its creative protests outside Parliament on December 11, using symbolic props to highlight the Adani bribery case.

Following previous protests with jackets, masks, and bags, Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were seen distributing roses and the Tricolour to BJP MPs. Gandhi presented a rose and a Tricolour to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as he arrived at the Lok Sabha.

Opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc also participated, carrying roses and flags as they stood at the entrance of Parliament. Congress MP Manickam Tagore explained the gesture, saying, "We are waiting for BJP members and want to give them a card with the Indian flag and a rose to remind them that the nation comes first."

The protest coincided with ongoing opposition accusations that the central government was avoiding discussions about the bribery allegations against Adani. The issue has caused continuous disruptions in both Houses of Parliament since the session began on November 20. The Congress demands a debate on the Adani case, while the BJP counters with claims about Congress' alleged ties to billionaire George Soros, asserting that the former Congress president and the party are linked to organizations funded by Soros, who allegedly supports the separatist cause in Kashmir.

The Adani bribery allegations, which involve over $250 million in bribes between 2020 and 2024, were brought to light by US prosecutors. The case concerns Adani's attempts to secure solar energy contracts from the Indian government under terms that could potentially generate over $2 billion in profits.

Meanwhile, the Opposition INDIA bloc parties submitted a notice in the Rajya Sabha on December 10, seeking the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing him of partisan conduct as the Chairman of the Upper House. While the motion to remove Dhankhar would require a simple majority in the 243-member Rajya Sabha, the opposition lacks the numbers needed to pass it. However, opposition leaders maintained that the motion was an important step to uphold parliamentary democracy.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon as both opposition and government members exchanged heated accusations over the no-confidence motion against Dhankhar.