Parliament Logjam: Congress Uses 2005 Manmohan Singh Video to Corner Govt on Adani Row

New Delhi: The ongoing Budget Session of Parliament has turned into a battlefield of narratives. As the deadlock between the ruling dispensation and the Opposition enters another day, the Congress party has deployed a new weapon from its archives: a video clip from 2005 featuring former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Amidst the chaos in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over the demand for a discussion on the Adani Group bribery indictment, the Congress is using this archival footage to draw a sharp contrast between the "transparency" of the UPA era and the alleged "silence" of the current NDA government.

The Viral Clip: What Did Manmohan Singh Say?
On Wednesday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a video on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) dating back to 2005. The video captures a moment from the Parliament session during the controversy surrounding the Volcker Committee report.

For context, the Volcker Committee inquiry had named then-External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and the Congress party as "non-contractual beneficiaries" in the Iraqi Oil-for-Food scandal.

In the video, Dr. Manmohan Singh is seen addressing the House with a calm but firm demeanor. He states:

"I have no hesitation in saying that our government is prepared to discuss any subject... if there is any truth in these allegations, the law of the land will take its course. We are not afraid of discussing any issue."

At that time, Dr. Singh not only allowed a discussion on the allegations against his own minister but also assured the House that the government had nothing to hide.

Congress's Strategy: "Silence vs. Accountability"
By releasing this clip, the Congress is attempting to construct a narrative of "Then vs. Now."

Jairam Ramesh captioned the video with a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the presiding officers of the Parliament. He pointed out that while Manmohan Singh was willing to debate corruption allegations involving his own cabinet minister, the current government is "running away" from discussing a private corporate entity (Adani Group) accused of bribing Indian officials.

The Opposition's argument rests on three pillars:

Precedent: If a Prime Minister in 2005 could allow a debate on a UN report naming his minister, why can't the Parliament in 2026 discuss a US DOJ indictment naming an Indian business tycoon?

Double Standards: Congress claims the BJP, which was in opposition in 2005, demanded and got a discussion then, but is now blocking the same democratic process.

The "Modani" Link: The Opposition alleges that the government's refusal to allow a debate confirms their accusation of a "nexus" between the ruling party and the Adani Group.

The Context: Why is Parliament Stalled?
The current legislative logjam stems from the bombshell indictment by prosecutors in the United States. The indictment alleges that Gautam Adani and his associates paid over $265 million (approx. ₹2,200 crore) in bribes to Indian government officials to secure solar energy contracts.

Since the Budget Session resumed, the INDIA bloc parties have been demanding:

An immediate discussion on the bribery charges.

A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani Group's dealings.

A statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

However, the government and the presiding officers (Speaker Om Birla in Lok Sabha and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar in Rajya Sabha) have rejected these notices. Their stance is that the matter is sub-judice or not relevant to the current proceedings, which are scheduled for the "Motion of Thanks" on the President's address.

Suspensions and Chaos
The refusal to allow a debate has led to unprecedented scenes in the Parliament.

Rajya Sabha: Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has taken a strict view of the disruptions. Several MPs, including those from the Congress and Left parties, have been named and suspended for entering the well of the House. Dhankhar expressed anguish over the "anarchy" and stated that the House cannot be held hostage to specific demands that violate rules.

Lok Sabha: Similar scenes were witnessed in the Lower House, with Opposition MPs chanting slogans like "Modi-Adani Bhai Bhai" (Modi and Adani are brothers).

Government's Defense
The ruling BJP has dismissed the Congress's "Manmohan Singh comparison" as a political stunt. Government sources argue that:

The Volcker Committee report directly named a sitting Cabinet Minister and the ruling party, making it a matter of immediate government concern.

The Adani indictment is against a private company and is based on allegations in a foreign jurisdiction (USA).

The law is already taking its course in India, and regulatory bodies like SEBI are competent to handle such matters without disrupting Parliament.

Conclusion
The resurrection of the 2005 video serves as a reminder of how the goalposts of parliamentary accountability shift depending on who is in power. For the Congress, Dr. Manmohan Singh's words are a badge of honor and a tool to shame the current regime. For the government, it is a distraction from the legislative agenda.

As the standoff continues, the Budget Session—which is meant to discuss the financial future of the country—risks being washed out by the ghosts of the past and the scandals of the present.