Modi–Adani mask up for Parliament, Rahul Gandhi interviews ‘special’ partners

Congress MPs staged a dramatic protest in Parliament today, 9 December, wearing masks depicting prime minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani to spotlight what they called an "unholy and long-standing nexus" between the two.

Manickam Tagore donned the Adani mask, while Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka wore the Modi mask, symbolising their alleged collusion in an impromptu skit during the INDIA bloc's protest outside the Samvidhan Sadan today.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi actively participated, clicking photos of the MPs in their masks and conducting an impromptu interview with Tagore, who was portraying Adani.

The Congress has been leading the demand for a thorough investigation of the Adani group, and of late the bribery case involving Gautam Adani, his nephew and others in the United States.

During the protest, Gandhi remarked on their ‘relationship’, the cue for Tagore and Ulaka to reply: ‘Hum dono milke sab karenge (We will do everything together). We have had a relationship for years.’

The protest underscored the Congress's ongoing demands for greater scrutiny of the alleged crony capitalism supported by the Modi government, to the advantage of the Adani Group and others.

As part of the mock interview, when Rahul Gandhi asked the protesting Opposition MPs why Parliament proceedings had been disrupted, they responded, ‘He is missing today. Amit bhai (Union Home Minister Amit Shah) did not come to the House today.’

Tagore added pointedly, "Whatever I say, he does it," gesturing to his colleague wearing the Modi mask.

Since the winter session began on 20 November, both Houses of Parliament have seen repeated disruptions, with the Opposition relentlessly targeting the central government for evading a discussion on the bribery allegations against Adani in the United States.

So far there have been protests in black jackets, protests with badges — until the Speaker saw fit to note this violated the code of conduct in Parliament — and protests at the Makar Dwar.

On Monday too, opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc staged protests outside the parliament building, demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the allegations.

The MPs gathered outside the Makar Dwar entrance of Parliament, raising slogans such as ‘Modi, Adani ek hain (Modi and Adani are one)’ and ‘We want justice’, spotlighting the alleged nexus between the prime minister and the industrialist.

Later, the Congress posted a film-style poster on X, titled 'Loots Us India Presents: Hum Ek Hain’, humorously crediting the film as ‘directed by Modani’.

Last month, U.S. prosecutors accused Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar of paying over Rs 2,000 crore in bribes between 2020 and 2024 to Indian government officials to secure solar energy contracts. The Adani Group has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them 'baseless'.