New Delhi: The Adani Group on Saturday said it is being targeted through false propaganda and a manufactured online campaign of lies about its operations.
In a statement on Twitter, the Adani Group said some attacks had been mounted by vested interests to “sabotage India’s strategic interests”.
Malicious campaign
“Adani Group is impacted by the malicious campaigns by forces inimical to our national interest,” it said in the post which was titled An Open Letter on the need to act against false propaganda.
“Accuracy, objectivity and impartiality” are core principles of fair and balanced journalism. “But on numerous occasions, Adani Group has been targeted through false propaganda. We have also been a victim of manufactured online media campaigns aimed at spreading malicious lies about our operations and inflicting harm to our shareholders,” it said.
Gujarat billionaire Gautam Adani and his conglomerate has often been accused of “unfairly benefiting” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
‘Beneficiary’ of farm laws
In the wake of the farmers’ protests Adani has been accused of being a beneficiary of the three controversial farm reform laws.
The Adani Group has denied charges of favouritism and in connection with the farm laws said it does not do contract farming.
Adani emphasized it only operates grain silos on behalf of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Adani a ‘trapeze artist’: Swamy
Last week, Subramanian Swamy, a member of Parliament of the BJP, called Adani a “trapeze artist” and said his group owed ₹4.5 trillion NPA to banks, a charge the Adani Group has denied saying it never defaulted on loans.
Adani said on Saturday that it has “great respect” for media and has accepted contrary opinions.
Adani moves courts
“But if under the pretext of free speech we see damage to our strategic interests as well as impact on our shareholders that put their trust on us, we are left with no option but act to protect our interests,” it said, adding it has filed cases in courts.
“We have complete faith in the Indian judiciary and total acceptance of the decision they make,” the conglomerate said.
The Adani Group generates and supplies energy, runs seaports, airports and other crucial assets.
“We reach out across many remote parts of the country and we are proud that we are a source of direct and indirect employment to hundreds of thousands of people,” it said.