Rahul Gandhi Accuses PM Modi of Trading Adani's Release for US Deal
Allegations of a Compromised Trade Deal
New Delhi: On Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of negotiating a trade agreement with the United States primarily to facilitate the release of billionaire Gautam Adani.
In a post on X, Gandhi stated, "The compromised PM did not negotiate a trade deal; he made a bargain for Adani's release," following reports that the US has agreed to settle a lawsuit against Adani.
The lawsuit alleged that Adani misled investors regarding a significant solar energy project in India, which was purportedly supported by a bribery scheme, as detailed in court documents released on Thursday.
Compromised PM ने trade deal नहीं, अडानी की रिहाई का सौदा किया।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 15, 2026
In response to these developments, Congress communications head Jairam Ramesh remarked that it is evident why the Prime Minister consented to what he termed a "hopelessly one-sided" Indo-US trade agreement, which he described as a significant advantage for the US.
Ramesh also pointed out that the PM abruptly halted Operation Sindoor on May 10, 2025, seemingly under pressure from President Trump rather than prioritizing national interests. He suggested that the Trump Administration is poised to dismiss all corruption charges against Adani.
Ramesh questioned, "How much more compromised can the PM get?"
The lawsuit, initiated in late 2024, accused Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani of agreeing to pay approximately USD 265 million in bribes to Indian officials between 2020 and 2024 to secure lucrative solar energy contracts, which were expected to generate USD 2 billion in profits over two decades.
The allegations also claimed that the Adani Group raised USD 2 billion through loans and bonds, including from US companies, based on misleading statements regarding its anti-bribery policies.
The Adani Group has denied these allegations.