Narendra Modi, UPA are Arvind Kejriwal's latest targets

New Delhi: Activist-turned politician Arvind Kejriwal has accused Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of favouring the Adani Group by buying expensive power from the firm and giving it cheap land in Kutch for its power projects.

The Adani Group responded, "These baseless allegations seem to be motivated and lack deeper understanding of the matter. They do not merit further response." (Read Adani Group's statement)

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and his associate Prashant Bhushan accused Mr Modi of allowing the Adanis to "walk away" with coal blocks without supplying power at cheaper rates as per agreements.

The BJP said that the land given to the Adanis was a wasteland.

Mr Kejriwal also said that Mr Modi allocated prime property in the state capital to MPs and MLAs who in turn sold it at higher prices.

He added that the Congress did not object as its own MPs and MLAs benefitted from similar deals.

Mr Kejriwal said that the state-run Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) was allocated gas fields worth around Rs. one lakh crore in the KG Basin and Mr Modi allegedly gave 10 per cent of each of the fields to a Canadian and an Indian company - Jubilant Enpro Private Limited and Geo Global - "completely free of cost" with any bidding.

Jubilant Energy, in a statement, denied the accusations. "Jubilant Energy, a subsidiary of Jubilant Enpro, won the block in international competitive bidding in the third round of New Exploration Licensing Policy of the government of India. Jubilant Energy is a partner in the block and pays fully for its 10 percent share of expenditure," the statement said. (Read: Jubilant Energy denies allegations)

Mr Kejriwal also claimed that Gujarat Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjeev Bhatt, whose wife is contesting against Mr Modi on a Congress ticket, gave him "some documents" regarding the allegedly illicit deals. Mr Kejriwal also said he wondered why Mr Bhatt or his wife did not raise the matter or gave it to the Congress even when Mrs Bhatt is contesting on a Congress ticket.

The Bhatts have not yet responded to Mr Modi's claims.


Here's the full statement by the Adani Group refuting Mr Kejriwal's allegations:

Adani Group denies all allegations/statements made by Mr. Arvind Kejriwal and his team against Adani Group at the Press conference today.

The land for Special Economic Zone at Mundra was allotted following the process of law. The allegation related to coal supply by GMDC is baseless. Till date we have not received any coal from GMDC.

These baseless allegations seem to be motivated and lack deeper understanding of the matter. They do not merit further response.

Jubilant Energy too denied the allegations in a statement:

Jubilant Energy, a subsidiary of Jubilant Enpro, won the block in international competitive bidding in the third round of New Exploration Licensing Policy of the government of India. Jubilant Energy is a partner in the block and pays fully for its 10 per cent share of expenditure.

Jubilant Energy is the original partner in the block with GSPC as the operator of the block. The block was awarded to Jubilant Energy by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with 22 other blocks at the same time to various parties.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)