New Delhi: Lokpal, the country’s anti-corruption ombudsman, dismissed a complaint filed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi getting black money from top industrialists like Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.
Ruling that the remarks by the PM’s remarks were “election propaganda” to corner an opponent, Lokpal pulled up the complainant on Friday.
The anti-corruption body said in its order it was unfathomable how PM Modi could be regarded as an ‘accused’ for making such a statement.
Calling the allegations by the complainant “far-fetched”, Lokpal said the PM’s statement was akin to “shadow-boxing” and that he can be an informant or a witness, but not an accused.
Observing that the complaint was devoid of merit and based on unverifiable facts, Lokpal said there was no need for it to intervene in the matter as Modi’s remarks were merely hypothetical or a speculative observation.
During a Lok Sabha election rally in Telangana’s Karimnagar on May 8, Modi targeted Rahul by saying: “Since election dates were declared, they (Rahul and other Congress leaders) have even stopped abusing Ambani and Adani. Why? I wish to ask the ‘shehzade’ (prince) of the Congress: How much black money have they received from Adani and Ambani? How much (funding) did the Congress receive from them for the (ongoing) elections? Have the tempos filled with currency notes reached Congress? I smell something wrong here. The Congress should come out and clarify to the people.”
Slamming Lokpal’s judgment, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned who would hold the Prime Minister accountable.
“Who will hold the self-anointed non-biological PM accountable for the web of deceit he weaves? We had demanded an ED and CBI investigation of the tempo claim made by Mr Modi on May 8, 2024. That demand still stands. Meanwhile, the Lokpal has certainly proved to be a Lok (Kalyan Marg) Pal?” Ramesh tweeted.
