Adani, Ambani, Shah, all are welcome, says Gehlot

Reacting to the criticism by the BJP on inviting industrialist Gautam Adani to the investment summit in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot remarked, “Be it Gautam Adani or any Adani, Ambani, Amit Shah's son Jay Shah, we welcome all those who are from industry as we need employment and investment.”

Interacting with the media on the last day of the summit, Mr Gehlot said criticizing the summit and making it an issue will cost the BJP dearly. “The youth will say they are getting employment and the BJP is opposing that,” the Chief Minister said.

He said 3,000 delegates attended the summit and they were not all Congress people. “This is not a party event,” he said. “I condemn the hindrance they are creating.”

Notably, Mr Adani was invited by the Rajasthan government to the investment summit and promised an investment of around Rs65,000 crore over the next seven years.

IANS adds: Earlier on Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also defended Mr Gehlot on the issue, saying, “Adani has proposed an investment of over Rs60,000 crore in Rajasthan. No Chief Minister can refuse it.”

Mr Gandhi pointed out that the Rajasthan government had not given any special relief to Mr Adani nor had it helped him using its political power. “If the Rajasthan government wrongly gives business to Adani, I would stand in protest,” he said. “If it is a fair procedure, there shouldn't be any problem.”