The Lok Sabha was adjourned within minutes on the morning of December 5, as BJP and Congress MPs clashed over allegations made by BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Patra had accused Gandhi of conspiring with billionaire philanthropist George Soros and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) to destabilise India, sparking a political uproar in Parliament. OCCRP's 2021 report had alleged Pegasus spyware's use against journalists and activists, including in India. In 2023, it alleged stock manipulation by the Adani Group through offshore entities.
The chaos began as Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, entered the House wearing black masks emblazoned with “Modi-Adani Bhai Bhai.” Their protest followed accusations by the BJP that Rahul was part of a “dangerous triangle” alongside Soros and the OCCRP, which BJP leaders claimed were orchestrating an international campaign to undermine India’s political stability and economic growth.
As Congress MP KC Venugopal attempted to address the House, Speaker Om Birla intervened, insisting that proceedings would be conducted with decorum. “The dignity of the House will not be lowered,” he said before adjourning the session until noon. Despite the adjournment, tensions continued to escalate outside Parliament, with both parties trading sharp accusations.
BJP’s allegations against Rahul Gandhi
At a press conference held shortly after the adjournment on Thursday, BJP leaders Sambit Patra and K Laxman launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of betraying national interests. Citing a report by French newspaper Mediapart, Patra alleged that Gandhi, George Soros, and the OCCRP were part of a “global conspiracy” to destabilise India.
Patra claimed that Soros’s Open Society Foundations—one of OCCRP’s funders—had long been involved in efforts to undermine India’s sovereignty. “The OCCRP, funded by Soros and other US-based entities, works in the interests of its financiers. Their reports are timed to disrupt India’s progress and create political instability,” Patra alleged.
The OCCRP receives funding from several prominent donors, including the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Ford Foundation, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Other supporters include the US Department of State, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the Open Society Initiative for Europe (OSIFE).
The BJP spokesperson accused Rahul Gandhi of using OCCRP reports to attack the Modi government on multiple occasions. He pointed to a 2021 article on alleged corruption in the sale of Covaxin to Brazil and a subsequent Congress press conference led by Rahul as evidence of coordinated attempts to tarnish India’s image during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patra also highlighted OCCRP’s reports on industrialist Gautam Adani, claiming they were designed to destabilise India’s economy and fuel political unrest.
Congress leaders dismissed the BJP’s accusations as baseless and defamatory. Congress Chief Whip Manickam Tagore wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding action against Patra for using “slanderous” language against the Leader of Opposition. “Such behaviour not only tarnishes the image of Parliament but also insults the dignity of a high constitutional office,” the letter stated.
The Congress also criticised the BJP for attempting to deflect attention from pressing national issues. “This is nothing more than a distraction from rising unemployment, inflation, and the Adani controversy,” said a senior Congress leader.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to George Soros and the OCCRP. Soros, a Hungarian-American billionaire and philanthropist, is a frequent target of right-wing governments across the world, including India. Through his Open Society Foundations, Soros has funded initiatives promoting democracy, human rights, and transparency globally.
The OCCRP, an international network of investigative journalists, has received funding from the Open Society Foundations as well as several US-based organisations. It is known for investigations like the Panama Papers, Pegasus, and multiple investigations into Indian businessman Gautam Adani.
French newspaper Mediapart filed a report on December 5, 2024, titled “A painful but necessary investigation,” which alleged that the OCCRP concealed its links to the US government while exposing corruption globally. The OCCRP dismissed Mediapart’s report earlier this week, calling it baseless and written by a “disgruntled former member.”