Opposition disrupts Indian parliament for fourth day

The lower house of India's parliament was suspended temporarily on Friday for a fourth day in a row this week following disruptions as opposition lawmakers sought a discussion on the allegations against Adani Group.

The protests centered on demands for a discussion regarding allegations against the Adani Group, a conglomerate led by billionaire Gautam Adani.

The opposition parties are pressing for a debate on accusations involving Adani, particularly claims made by U.S. authorities that Adani and key figures in his company were involved in a $265 million bribery scheme to secure solar power contracts in India, as well as misleading U.S. investors during fundraising efforts.

Manickam Tagore, a lawmaker from the Congress party, emphasised the urgency of the matter, demanding a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the allegations.

Many opposition parties, including Congress, have accused Modi's government and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of shielding Adani from investigations, which the BJP has denied.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, a vocal critic of Adani, has called for Adani's arrest, further fueling the controversy.

The government has yet to comment directly on the U.S. indictment, with BJP spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal stating that the party had no reason to defend Adani and that legal processes would take their course.