Congress accuses BJP of favoritism in Adani Power Deal ahead of Bihar elections

The Congress party has leveled serious allegations against the ruling BJP, accusing them of favoritism in awarding a significant land deal to Gautam Adani's company for a power project in Bihar, just ahead of the Assembly elections. According to Congress Media and Publicity Department Chairman Pawan Khera, the deal involves granting over 1000 acres of land to Adani Power Limited at a nominal rate of Re 1 per acre per year for 33 years.

The land acquisition process has been surrounded by controversy, with allegations of intimidation and coercion against farmers. Reports suggest that villagers were forced to sell their land at varying prices, with some even claiming that they were forced to sign with a pencil. The project, which requires cutting down around 1 million trees, has also sparked concerns about its environmental impact.

The 2,400-megawatt power project, located in Pirpainti, Bhagalpur, is estimated to attract an investment of approximately Rs 30,000 crore. However, the Congress party claims that the deal is unfair to the people of Bihar, who will have to buy electricity from the plant at Rs 6.75 per unit. Pawan Khera described this as a case of "double looting," alleging that Adani is benefiting from his alleged friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Khera further alleged that this is not an isolated incident, citing similar deals given to Adani in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh before Assembly elections. He claimed that the BJP has a pattern of giving lucrative deals to Adani's company whenever they feel threatened at the polls. The Congress party's allegations have raised questions about the transparency and fairness of the deal, and whether it truly benefits the people of Bihar.