Congress Unleashes Unprecedented Tactics in Parliament Protests Against Adani: A Game-Changing Political Move?

During Tuesday's protest, Congress MPs donned masks of PM Modi and Adani, with Rahul Gandhi playfully "interviewing" them to highlight perceived connections between the two figures, adding a theatrical flair to the political demonstration.

P24 News Media

December 10, 2024

1 minute

Congress Unleashes Unprecedented Tactics in Parliament Protests Against Adani: A Game-Changing Political Move?

India

Manickam Tagore serves as a Congress Member of Parliament representing Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu, whereas Shivaji Bandappa Kalge is the party's parliamentarian from Latur in Maharashtra. On a recent Monday, both lawmakers became key figures in the Congress party's efforts to spotlight its protests regarding the Gautam Adani controversy within the Parliament. In an unplanned yet theatrical move, Kalge donned a mask of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while Tagore wore one portraying Gautam Adani. This spectacle occurred as Rahul Gandhi took the opportunity to interview them on the premises of the House, discussing their so-called "special relationship." A fellow Congress MP described this as a “moment of creativity” involving all three participants.

The usage of masks represents the latest strategy that Congress has embraced during the current Winter Session, aimed at shedding light on its claims of favoritism towards the Adani Group by the Modi administration. The decision to adopt such tactics came after the first week of the Winter Session was marred by numerous adjournments, which prevented the party from raising the pertinent issues within the House.

That particular Monday commenced with an agreement between the government and the opposition to facilitate smooth proceedings in the House. Congress members, including those from allied parties, urged their leadership not to obstruct discussions over the Adani issue and to allow other matters to be raised. This led to an internal meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group, where the focus was to devise innovative methods for emphasizing the Adani controversy. According to a Congress MP involved in the meeting, there was encouragement from Rahul Gandhi to find fresh approaches to make their protests more visually impactful, thereby ensuring that while they were not hindering House operations, they could draw attention to a matter of significant public interest.

In the ensuing days, Congress leaders alongside MPs from the INDIA bloc entered the House carrying a large black banner inscribed with the phrase “Modi-Adani are one”. On a subsequent day, they sported black jackets featuring a prominent sticker that read: “Modi Adani ek hai, Adani safe hai” – a clever twist on Modi’s recent campaign slogan from Maharashtra elections. Rahul Gandhi, opting for his trademark attire of a white T-shirt and khaki trousers, affixed a similar sticker to his shirt.

During another rally, Congress representatives arrived at the Parliament clutching pocket-sized versions of the Constitution while wearing anti-pollution masks inscribed with the message “Modi, Adani bhai bhai” (Modi and Adani are brothers). A member of Congress articulated that the shift to this new form of protests was partly due to the media's lack of engagement with the Adani issue, necessitating a change in tactics.

The “interview” conducted on that Monday undoubtedly attracted considerable attention, especially due to Gandhi's involvement. Several Congress MPs further amplified the spectacle by donning either a Modi or Adani mask while ensuring that they were captured on camera sharing hugs or handshakes within the parliamentary precincts. One Congress MP noted, “We aimed to illustrate the connection between the two.”

Gandhi's impromptu session began with a casual inquiry to Tagore, masquerading as Adani, about their current dealings. Tagore humorously responded, “Whatever I express, he complies. Everything that I desire—be it ports or airports…” When prompted about their aspirations, Tagore mentioned an upcoming meeting. Gandhi cleverly posed the question of why Modi was not allowing Parliament to function, to which Tagore quipped about Amit Bhai's absence, hinting at the underlying tensions.

As the dialogue progressed, Tagore also commented on Modi's unusual silence, answering that he seemed to be under stress, which elicited laughter from the opposition lawmakers. While the masks were part of an orchestrated demonstration, the spontaneous interview appeared to catch both MPs off-guard, leading to a quick, unscripted interaction that lasted just a few minutes.

Congress leaders have articulated their commitment to persistently raise concerns about Adani, with Gandhi reiterating the importance of this topic during a press conference prior to the Winter Session. Even though there may be frustration regarding the limited involvement of allies like the Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress in these protests, Congress remains undeterred, focusing instead on their strategies and engagement to elevate the issue in public discourse.