Congress neta Prithviraj Chavan attacks NCP chief Sharad Pawar, says PM Narendra Modi found ‘novel way’ to avoid JPC

MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan of Congress on Monday said NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s contention that a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Adani controversy would not serve any purpose as NDA members would be in a majority in it was “baseless. ”
Speaking at a meeting of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, he said the JPC formed in 2003 to look into pesticides in cold drinks, headed by Pawar, had been effective.He also alleged PM Narendra Modi has found “a novel way” to avoid a JPC as “he has chosen a prominent opposition member to halt the probe into the Adani scam. ”
Chavan said that compared to a court-monitored committee, JPC has “tremendous powers” as it can summon anyone and if the person doesn’t respond, he/she can be sent to jail for defying the JPC’s orders.

He also said that he was himself a member of the committee headed by Pawar in 2003. “Pawar was not in BJP then, and the outcome of the JPC probe was excellent. As a result, we are now getting pure drinking water and cold drinks too. I must admit that as JPC chairman, Pawar had done excellent work,” Chavan added.
“What hurt me is that Pawar granted an interview opposing the JPC to a channel owned by Adani,” he said.
Chavan said a JPC alone can reveal the truth in the “scam. ” He alleged that PM Modi “fears” a JPC and added that during Congress regime, JPCs were set up to probe the Bofors, Harshad Mehta and Ketan Parekh scam during the tenure of then PMs Rajiv Gandhi, Manmohan Singhand AB Vajpayee respectively. “We had demanded a JPC into the Rafale deal, notebandi, GST and lockdown. We know Modi will never concede our demand,” he said.

Chavan said ever since Rahul Gandhi has taken up the Adani scam, the BJP government has been unable to face the situation, and Modi has responded to a single question raised by the Congress member. “Rahul has raised basic questions on Adani scam. He sought information on the source of funding for Adani group. BJP must realise that now Rahul has emerged as a force to reckon with and no one can defeat him,” he said.
Chavan said it was high time BJP explained to the nation “the relationship between Modi and Adani. ” “All rules were flouted when Adani was granted contract for four airports,” he claimed.