The Congress has accused the Narendra Modi government of designing the proposed Rs 84,084-crore 'Samudra Manthan Yojana' to benefit private companies, particularly the Adani Group. The party has demanded that the programme be terminated immediately.
Congress Claims Scheme Favors Adani Group
At a press conference, Congress national spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil claimed that the Union Cabinet had approved Rs 84,084 crore for the first phase of the offshore oil and gas exploration scheme. He alleged that 50 per cent of the project funding would be given directly to the company undertaking the exploration.
Gohil described the programme as another example of what he alleged was the Modi government's preference for the Adani Group.
"It's clear that from this 'Samudra Manthan', poison will come to the public's share and nectar to Adani's..." — Shaktisinh Gohil, Congress national spokesperson
Congress Demands Immediate Termination of Scheme
The Congress has called for the immediate termination of the Samudra Manthan Yojana, arguing that the scheme is structured to benefit private players at the expense of public interest. The party's demand comes amid ongoing criticism of the government's handling of major infrastructure and energy projects.
The allegations center on the funding structure of the scheme, with Congress claiming that half of the project's budget would be channeled directly to the company responsible for exploration activities.
Our Take: Questions That Need Answers
To put it plainly, these are serious allegations that deserve scrutiny. The Congress has raised a specific claim — that 50 per cent of the project funding would go directly to the exploring company — and the public deserves clarity on how this scheme's finances are structured.
In our view, when a major public project worth over Rs 84,000 crore is announced, transparency about who benefits is not optional. Whether the allegations against the Adani Group are accurate or not, the government must respond clearly to these charges. The use of a mythological name like 'Samudra Manthan' — which in Hindu mythology produced both nectar and poison — makes the Congress's metaphor pointed, but the real issue is about accountability.
Citizens should watch how the government responds to these allegations and whether it provides a clear breakdown of the scheme's beneficiaries. Without that transparency, such projects will continue to face credibility questions.
