The Congress party on Friday dismissed the discovery of currency notes under the Rajya Sabha seat allotted to senior leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi as a “ploy to distract attention” from the Adani controversy.
Congress Demands Investigation
Party sources stated, “If somebody is carrying Rs 50,000 in the pocket, it is not a crime. Congress leaders have met with Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and requested a thorough investigation into the matter by any agency or even the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).”
This follows Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar’s revelation during the session that security officials discovered a wad of cash under seat number 222, which is currently allocated to Singhvi.
Chairman Dhankhar’s Statement
Dhankhar informed the House, “During the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday, a wad of currency notes was recovered by security officials from seat number 222, presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The matter was brought to my notice, and I ensured that an investigation is underway.”
Singhvi Expresses Astonishment
Reacting to the allegations, Singhvi expressed surprise, dismissing the claims as baseless. He called for a deeper investigation into possible lapses in security procedures.
“I am quite astonished to even hear about it. I never heard of it. I reached the inside of the House yesterday at 12.57 pm. The House rose at 1 pm. From 1 to 1:30 pm, I sat with Ayodhya Prasad in the canteen and had lunch. At 1:30 pm, I left Parliament. My total stay in the House yesterday was three minutes, and my stay in the canteen was 30 minutes. If it was not tragic and serious, it would be comical. Everybody should cooperate in getting to the bottom of this. If there is a failing in the security agencies, that must also be completely exposed,” Singhvi told media.
Congress’s Counterarguments
Inside the House, Congress President and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Chairman for naming Singhvi while the matter was still under investigation.
“You said that this matter is under investigation, then his/her name should not have been taken. I request that until the investigation is done and the authenticity of the incident is established, a member should not be named,” Kharge asserted, adding that such allegations against Congress were part of a broader political strategy.
Political Tensions Escalate
The incident has sparked sharp exchanges between the BJP and Congress, with BJP accusing Congress of avoiding accountability and Congress alleging the incident was fabricated to divert attention from pressing national issues like the Adani controversy.
The first session of the Winter Session of Parliament, which began on November 25, has already seen frequent disruptions. The session is set to conclude on December 20.