NewsRescue
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, along with other officials, have criticized billionaire George Soros for suggesting that the scandal surrounding the Adani Group, linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, might bring a “democratic revival” for the country.
Soros, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, claimed that fraud allegations against the conglomerate would “significantly weaken Modi’s stranglehold on India’s federal government” and could result in a democratic revival.
Jaishankar, however, has described Soros as “old, rich, opinionated and dangerous,” and said that he is willing to invest money in shaping narratives.
The head of India’s Ministry for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, also commented that Soros’s statement was an attempt to hurt India’s image and talked of regime change.
The Indian National Congress has also rejected attempts by Soros to meddle in India’s internal affairs. INC general secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote on Twitter, “Whether the ‘PM-linked Adani scam’ sparks a democratic revival in India depends entirely on the Congress, Opposition parties and our electoral process. It has nothing to do with George Soros.”
Jaishankar also recalled that Soros, who runs the Open Society Foundation and sponsors numerous NGOs around the globe, hasn’t always been correct in his forecasts. “Few years ago, he actually accused us of planning to strip millions of Muslims of their citizenship, which of course didn’t happen. It was a ridiculous suggestion,” the minister said.
“People like him think an election is good if the person they want to see wins and, if the election throws up a different outcome, then they will say it is a flawed democracy,” he added.
Soros, who is a neo-liberal political activist, has long been known for his support of progressive causes and his opposition to authoritarian regimes. However, his comments about a democratic revival in India have not been received well by the country’s officials.
It remains to be seen whether the scandal surrounding the Adani Group will lead to a democratic revival in India. However, what is clear is that the comments made by Soros have sparked a strong reaction from officials, who are determined to protect the country’s image and sovereignty.
