Narendra Modi power! Adani pulls rug from under Wharton

The Gujarat-based Adani Group on Monday withdrew as one of the main sponsors of the Wharton India Economic Forum scheduled for later this month, soon after the prestigious business school cancelled the keynote address of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi following uproar from a section of university professors and students.

Meanwhile, news emerged that Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani has also decided not to participate in the programme. A group spokesperson insisted that Gautam Adani had opted out of the event a fortnight ago.

“Mr Gautam Adani had conveyed his inability to join as a keynote speaker at the Wharton Economic Forum. This was communicated almost a fortnight ago as he has other pressing commitments,”  a group spokesperson said. “Our participation at the event is just by way of sponsorship,” he said

He, however, did not clarify on withdrawing of the sponsorship for the annual India-centric conference.

Adani’s withdrawal followed Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu’s cancelling his visit to Wharton for the event. Prabhu, who has been a regular speaker at national and international colleges and universities, said, “Wharton had invited Modi. He did not ask for it. If you dis-invite a person after you have sent an invitation, it is not only an insult to the Gujarat chief minister but of the entire country.”

“The university should be a place where divergent views are debated. Such a decision, that too by a varsity in the US, is unfathomable,” he said.

The Shiv Sena leader maintained that Modi is a democratically elected leader and a “three-term CM”

Since Modi has been denied a US visa, he was to deliver his address on March 22-23 via video-conference. The Adani’s withdrawal underscores its proximity to Modi. The Opposition Congress in Gujarat has often alleged that land at throw-away prices and several other sops worth hundreds of crores of rupees have been granted to Adani by the Modi government. According to details revealed to the Election Commission, the Adanis are also amongst the biggest corporate donors to the BJP nationally.

Meanwhile, the Whartan School on Monday invited Aam Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal to address the conference.

@DNA