The air in Parliament was heavy with tension, a brewing storm that had nothing to do with legislative debates or public welfare. At the centre of this tempest were two billionaires whose names carried the weight of controversy: Gautam Adani and George Soros. The BJP thundered with allegations of a global conspiracy to destabilise India, singling out Soros as the mastermind pulling invisible strings.
Across the aisle, the Congress retaliated, accusing the government of using Soros as a smokescreen to shield Adani and the brewing scandal of alleged corporate impropriety. With both sides locked in fierce battle, the proceedings of Parliament have ground to a halt, leaving behind a wasteland of unanswered questions and mounting taxpayer frustration.
The BJP has unleashed a volley of allegations against Sonia Gandhi, claiming her association with organisations linked to Soros. Central to its accusation is her role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia-Pacific (FDL-AP), an entity the BJP alleges has received funding from Soros’s Open Society Foundations (OSF). According to BJP spokespersons, this foundation has historically backed controversial positions, including the notion of Kashmir’s independence from India.
Further fuelling its claims, the BJP has pointed to an alleged partnership between the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, and Soros-funded entities. It argues that this collaboration highlights foreign influence over domestic institutions. Adding to the arsenal, the BJP has circulated images of Salil Shetty, vice-president of OSF, participating in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, suggesting a deeper alignment between the Congress and Soros’s global network.
Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju has described these connections as “serious concerns” and part of a larger anti-India agenda, urging all political parties to unite against external interference. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has gone so far as to accuse the Congress of using Soros’s financial support for its political campaigns, questioning whether Soros-funded initiatives indirectly aided Rahul Gandhi’s activities.
The BJP has also alleged that the FDL-AP, with which Sonia Gandhi is associated, has publicly supported divisive agendas, framing this as evidence of the Congress’s complicity in weakening India’s unity and sovereignty. These claims, while vehemently denied by the Congress, have added significant fuel to the ongoing parliamentary impasse.
The BJP has suggested that Soros’s funding influenced Indian politics through indirect means, including support for organisations critical of the Narendra Modi government. BJP MP Sambit Patra has called the alleged connections between Soros, Congress leaders and investigative entities such as the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) part of a “sinister triangular nexus” aiming to destabilise India’s economy and democratic fabric.
The Congress, on the other hand, has dismissed these claims as baseless distractions. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra publicly ridiculed the BJP’s allegations, calling them a ploy to divert attention from the Adani bribery controversy. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate highlighted that the government itself has indirectly contributed to the UN Democracy Fund, which supports Soros’s initiatives. The party also questioned why the government has not acted against Soros if it truly views him as a threat to India’s sovereignty.
Adding to the mix, the Congress’s Pawan Khera accused Professor Shamika Ravi, economic advisor to the prime minister, of receiving grants from OSF. Ravi, however, clarified that her association with OSF was indirect, limited to an institutional grant during her tenure at the Indian School of Business.
This clash has paralysed Parliament, with each side accusing the other of betraying national interests. While the BJP insists on addressing alleged foreign interference, the Congress remains steadfast in its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani Group allegations.
Who is George Soros?
Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1930, Soros survived the Nazi occupation during World War II before immigrating to the UK in 1947. He studied at the London School of Economics, where he was deeply influenced by philosopher Karl Popper’s theory of “open society”. Soros’s financial career began in New York in the 1950s, culminating in the establishment of Soros Fund Management in 1970. Famously known as “the man who broke the Bank of England”, Soros earned over $1 billion in 1992 by betting against the British pound.
Soros’s philanthropic endeavours began in the 1970s, leading to the creation of OSF in 1984. With a presence in over 120 countries, OSF has funded initiatives promoting democracy, human rights and freedom of speech. In India, OSF has been active since 1999, investing in educational scholarships, social impact projects and advocacy campaigns aimed at empowering marginalised communities.
However, OSF has been a lightning rod for controversies. Critics accuse Soros of meddling in sovereign nations’ affairs under the guise of promoting democracy. His funding of progressive political causes has drawn ire from conservatives worldwide, with accusations ranging from currency destabilisation to influencing regime changes.
Soros’s financial and philanthropic activities have often placed him at the centre of geopolitical storms. In 1992, he was blamed for the devaluation of the British pound. Southeast Asian leaders accused him of triggering the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In the US, he is seen as a polarising figure, accused by conservatives of funding liberal prosecutors and influencing policies they claim have led to rising crime rates.
Soros’s OSF has been accused of promoting regime change in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Critics argue that his initiatives often serve Western geopolitical interests under the guise of human rights advocacy. Soros’s supporters, however, view him as a champion of democratic values and social justice.
In India, OSF’s activities have been scrutinised for allegedly supporting groups critical of government policies. BJP leaders argue that this influence undermines India’s sovereignty and democratic processes, framing Soros as a symbol of foreign interference.
Soros has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Modi and his government. In February 2023, while addressing the Munich Security Conference, Soros referenced the Hindenburg Research report that accused the Adani Group of financial irregularities. He speculated that the controversy could weaken Modi’s “stranglehold” on India’s federal government and predicted that it might lead to a resurgence of democracy in the country. Soros described Modi as “no democrat”, criticising his administration for fostering what he termed as a Hindu nationalist state and imposing punitive measures in Kashmir.
