Arappor Iyakkam has called for a protest against the Central and Tamil Nadu State Governments on January 5, 2025 at Valluvar Kottam, seeking action against TANGEDCO and the Adani Group on the substandard coal purchase scam and more.
There is no dearth of allegations of corruption, bribes, scams and fraud against the Adani Group—more than half their Wikipedia page is dedicated to them.
Now, many people say, this is all an international conspiracy to limit the growth rate of India's GDP and prevent it from becoming a “superpower”. But, they give the same answer even when we ask why the value of the INR has fallen by more than 30 %, with respect to the USD, from the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014.
The INDIA coalition, of which the DMK is a part of, is demanding a JPC probe on the allegations against the Adani Group in the wake of the indictment against Gautam Adani et al. in a US District Court.
Our Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, who is part of this coalition had also been a vehement opposer of the “corrupt Adani Group”, but it was before he was elected as CM in 2021. He hasn't shown the same fervour, now that he has the power to prosecute them. Would this be the same that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi would do if elected to power?
This double faced politics and people's helplessness towards it, is very dangerous. Crony capitalism at a different time, helped the East India Company take over India. If we intend to retain our hard-earned freedom, we need to be vigilant against it.
The focus on the TANGEDCO-Adani Coal Scam and the Chief Minister M. K. Stalin is just a tool in the fight against this bigger problem.
February 9, 2018: The leader of the opposition Mr. M. K. Stalin, demanded a CBI probe on the alleged import of substandard coal by TANGEDCO, benefiting the Adani Group. Edapadi K. Palaniswami of the AIADMK was the Chief Minister at that time.
August 6, 2018: Arappor Iyakkam submitted a complaint with the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption on this import of substandard coal and corresponding loss to the exchequer of around ₹6066 crores.
April 4, 2019: Arappor Iyakkam submitted additional evidence to the DVAC on the lower pricing of the coal purchased by TNPL compared to TANGEDCO for the same quality.
May 2021: Stalin became the Chief Minister. The once vehement opposer of corruption in TANGEDCO, let the complaints languish with the DVAC.
January 31, 2023:, Arappor Iyakkam reminded him by sending a letter demanding that the DVAC immediately start investigating the complaint and register an FIR against TANGEDCO officials and the Adani Group.
July 2, 2024: It was widely reported that the DVAC has got the nod from the State Government and had registered a preliminary enquiry on the allegations.
In just a few days on July 9, 2024: Gautam Adani flew down to Chennai on a chartered plane and according to a report in The Times of India, visited Chittaranjan Salai—the residence of CM Stalin—and then left for a dinner meeting on the ECR, before returning home the same night.
RTI requests by Arappor Iyakkam to the DIPR, gave a response that they did not have any information on Adani's visit, although the Tamil Nadu Police was involved in the security arrangements as seen in this video
Other political parties like the BJP, PMK, and the AIADMK have caught on to this scandal and have used it to corner the DMK, while they themselves, do not support any investigations on the Adani Group at the centre.
The entire Government and Political System seem to benefit from the Adani Group and are afraid to act against them. In all these, the common man stands to lose the most.
We feel pained by what we see and want to do something to change the situation, but do not know what to do.
In a Democracy, political parties are still at the mercy of elections, votes and ultimately the people (though there are attempts to weaken this power through the One Nation, One Election proposal). They still fear them more than any Adani, but we fail to raise our voice loud enough to reach their ears. Peaceful protests and demonstrations are the loudest alarm bells, while views, likes and comments on social media are sweet lullabies.
I hope, I have convinced you to stand with Arappor Iyakkam on January 5, at Valluvar Kottam and make our voices heard.