George Soros, a Hungarian-American businessman, and philanthropist, is at the receiving end of criticism for his comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Minister Smriti Irani today said that foreign forces were trying to destroy India's democracy and called upon Indians to unitedly respond to 'foreign powers who try to intervene in India's democratic processes'.

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Irani, a feisty and outspoken minister of the Modi government, said that the number one target of George Soros is the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. She alleged that Soros wants to remove the Modi government from power and bring a government in the country that will protect his interests. She also charged that Soros has announced funds to demolish India's democratic structure and it is known to everyone who he funds and to whom he sends money.

Soros, 92, stoked controversy during a speech ahead of the Munich security conference, saying the turmoil engulfing Gautam Adani's business empire that has 'shaken' the faith in India as an investment opportunity may open the door to a 'democratic revival' in the country. He also alleged that PM Modi is not a democrat.

Notably, Ahmedabad-based Adani Group has been under severe pressure since the US short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of accounting fraud and stock manipulation, allegations that the conglomerate has denied as 'malicious, "baseless, and a calculated attack on India'.

 

Who is George Soros?

Soros is considered to be one of the most successful investors and philanthropists. He is one of the wealthiest men in the world, having a net worth of $8.5 billion, as per the record of Bloomberg.

Born on August 12, 1930, to a Jewish family, Soros left Hungary when he was just 17. Soros is an alumnus of the London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE). He obtained his Bachelor of Science in philosophy in 1951 and a Master of Science in philosophy in 1954 from the London School of Economics.

In 1954, Soros began his career at the merchant bank Singer & Friedlander of London. In 1956, Soros moved to New York and worked as an analyst of European securities. He established a hedge fund in 1973 and managed clients' money till 2011.

As per Forbes, Soros shorted the British pound and reportedly made a profit of $1 billion. He became known as the man who broke the Bank of England, which led to Black Wednesday in the UK.

 

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