The BRS demanded the Congress-led government to return the ₹100 crore donation from Adani for setting up a Skill University.
Published Nov 22, 2024 | 9:53 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 22, 2024 | 9:54 PM
Telangana CM Revanth with TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud. (X)
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President M Mahesh Kumar Goud said the state would review and reconsider its agreements with Adani Group.
Goud’s statement, which could put the government on the defensive, came after US prosecutors indicted him in a $256 million bribery scam linked to winning solar power purchases in India.
Responding to reporters’ queries at the Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad on Friday, 22 November, the Congress leader said the Telangana government had not allotted even an inch of land to Adani, except for signing some agreements.
“We will review them (the agreements) if Adani is proved guilty,” Goud said.
The TPCC chief dismissed as baseless BRS working President KT Rama Rao’s allegation that Adani had given ₹100 crore given by Adani. Goud said the money was for setting up a Skill University.
“The money did not go into Revanth Reddy’s pocket,” he said, adding, “If KTR comes forward and donates, say ₹50 crore, the government will accept it since it is meant for public good and not for personal use.”
On a specific query on Revanth Reddy signing agreements with Adani in Davos, Switzerland, Goud said the Alpine town was where all industrialists converged.
The Telangana government had signed deals worth ₹4,500 crore, including with Adani Group, during the World Economic Forum.
“Let me assure you, we will pursue those agreements which were by the law. If they are not legal, we will abandon them,” Goud asserted.
The PCC president slammed the BJP for working hand in glove with Adani. “Adani should immediately be arrested,” he demanded.
He reiterated the party’s demand for the constitution of a joint parliamentary probe of the muddle. “It is only through such a probe that the truth would come out,” he said.
Goud alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not acting against Adani because once the industrialist’s guilt came out, he would have to resign. “Both Modi and Adani are partners in crime,” he said.
He said after the BJP came to power at the Centre, the assets of Ambani and Adani increased manifold. “The prime minister is helping Adani increase the value of his assets. Adani has manipulated stock markets also,” Goud said.
At a separate news conference, BRS working President KT Rama Rao demanded the cancellation of all agreements the Telangana government had signed with the Adani group.
“If Rahul Gandhi is sincere about his stance on Adani, the Telangana Congress government must cancel all agreements with the group,” he demanded
KTR accused Gandhi of hypocrisy for criticizing Adani’s alleged corrupt practices at the national level while remaining silent about the Telangana Congress government’s close associations with the group.
He pointed out that the Congress government in Telangana has entered into business agreements worth ₹12,400 crore with Adani, including investments in green energy, data centers, and cement industries.
“How can the Congress portray Adani as corrupt in Delhi while treating him as trustworthy in Telangana?” KTR questioned.
The BRS leader further alleged that the Telangana Congress accepted ₹100 crore as a donation from the Adani Group for the Skill University. He demanded the immediate return of the donation if the Congress leadership believed in its rhetoric about Adani’s corruption.
“Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy are engaging in opportunism. They must clarify their stance to the people of Telangana,” KTR said.
He asked Revanth Reddy to disclose his equation with Adani to the people of Telangana. “How can he criticize Adani on the one hand and engage in large-scale collaborations with him on the other?” he asked.
KTR asked Gandhi to emulate Kenya’s example of cancelling all contracts with Adani following allegations of corruption. “If he fails to act, it exposes the Congress party’s lack of integrity,” the BRS leader stated.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
