Rahul Gandhi hits out at Modi over Lankan power project

Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit out at the Modi government over its alleged interference in a Sri Lanka Power Project, Indian media reports said yesterday.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Gandhi said, “BJP’s cronyism has now crossed Palk Strait and moved into Sri Lanka.”

Along with his tweet, he shared a report where Ceylon Electricity Board chief had alleged that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa told him that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted that the Wind Power Project be awarded to Gautam Adani’s group.

CEB chairman MMC Ferdinando made the allegations on Friday before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) but soon withdrew them saying he had been “emotional”.

His allegations even forced President Rajapaksa to issue a statement on the matter.

President Rajapaksa tweeted, “Re[garding] a statement made by the #lka CEB Chairman at a COPE committee hearing regarding the award of a Wind Power Project in Mannar, I categorically deny authorisation to award this project to any specific person or entity. I trust responsible communication in this regard will follow.”