Darshan Hiranandani's Revelations: Mahua Moitra's Alleged Strategy To Discredit PM Modi Via Gautam Adani
In a surprising turn of events, businessman Darshan Hiranandani has presented an affidavit making remarkable allegations involving Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra .
Hiranandani alleges that Moitra entrusted him with her parliamentary login ID to formulate questions concerning the Adani group, citing this as the ‘only way’ to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These claims present a substantial challenge for Moitra, who currently faces allegations from the BJP.
BJP Allegations
The BJP accuses Moitra of accepting financial benefits and favours from Darshan Hiranandani, who heads the Hiranandani Group, to undermine her business rival, the Adani Group, and has demanded her suspension from parliament.
The assertion that Moitra shared her parliamentary login ID could potentially constitute a breach of privilege, which may result in a suspension order against her.
Hiranandani's Statement
In a signed affidavit, Hiranandani has acknowledged using Moitra's parliamentary login to pose questions aimed at the Adani group. This action was prompted by the Indian Oil Corporation's decision to book capacity at Adani's Dhamra LNG import facility in Odisha, instead of Hiranandani's planned facility.
Hiranandani's Involvement
Hiranandani, who finds himself embroiled in the ‘cash-for-questions’ controversy surrounding Moitra, explained that he submitted the affidavit because the situation directly concerns him and has evolved into a political controversy, involving the Parliamentary Privilege Committee and the judiciary.
Affidavit Details
In the three-page affidavit, Hiranandani admits to certain aspects that align with the bulk of the BJP's accusations against Moitra, including sharing her login ID and accepting favours from him. However, the affidavit does not address the primary charge against her: posing over 50 parliamentary questions on behalf of the Hiranandani Group to undermine its business rival, the Adani Group.
Motivation to Target Modi
The affidavit said, “She was advised by her friends and advisors that the shortest possible route to fame is by personally attacking Modi.
As was her wont, she thought that the only way to attack Modi is by attacking Gautam Adani and his group as both were contemporaries and they belong to the same state of Gujarat.”
Sharing of Login ID
To facilitate this strategy, she provided her parliamentary login ID so that Hiranandani could draft the questions, as stated by Hiranandani. He went along with this plan because he believed that, through her, he would garner support in states ruled by the Opposition.
Allegations of Support
Hiranandani also asserts that Moitra received support from various quarters, including journalists, Opposition leaders, and former employees of the Adani Group. He further claims that the Trinamool MP was a dominant and ambitious individual who made several demands for "various favours."
Accommodating Requests
To maintain her support, Hiranandani accommodated her requests, which included expensive luxury items, assistance in renovating her officially allocated Delhi residence, travel expenses, and holidays. He admitted that he felt she was sometimes taking undue advantage of him and pressuring him to do things he didn't want to do, but he had no choice due to the aforementioned reasons.
"I felt that she was sometimes taking undue advantage of me and pressuring me to do things I didn't want to do, but I had no choice due to the aforementioned reasons," revealed the affidavit.