Adani stock fall: India’s opposition MPs protest, demand JPC probe

India's opposition lawmakers held a protest on the premises of parliament demanding joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the sharp fall in values of stocks of billionaire tycoon Gautam Adani-led Adani Enterprises.

As the opposition raised its pitch on the Adani issue, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in a TV interview, rejected the charge that the government had favoured Adani group and contended that everything was awarded through open tender.

Shouting slogans, the opposition MPs held a banner that read "We demand JPC (joint parliamentary committee) or Supreme Court-monitored probe on Adani scandal".

Among the parties, which participated in the protest were Congress, DMK, NCP, BRS, JDU, SP, CPI-M, CPI, JMM, RLD, RSP, AAP, IUML, RJD and Shiv Sena, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Sitharaman accused the opposition of indulging in "hypocrisy" and pointed out that opposition parties ruling states have handed over land to Adani group's companies to build ports and other projects.

"Which are the (state) governments that have called this (Adani group) and given land, given ports? Not BJP governments. How come you suddenly forget that?" she told the Times Now in the first major push-back from the government at a combative opposition.

The Adani group has been awarded projects in West Bengal (where Trinamool Congress is in power) to build a deep-sea port in the Bay of Bengal, in Kerala ruled by CPI(M) and Congress-governed Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.