Revanth Reddy with Gautam Adani and Karan Adani. (X)
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, 21 November, demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe allegations against Adani Group by a US court.
During the press conference, a reporter asked Rahul Gandhi’s stance on Adani Group’s projects in Congress-ruled states, including Telangana.
“Like I said, we don’t have any issues when projects are acquired by following due process. However, we are against bribery, illegal lobbying, and monopolisation. Investigations must begin in every state and country, starting with Adani’s arrest”.
“Anyone involved, whether in Opposition or BJP governments, must be investigated.”
However, the Opposition BRS in Telangana is questioning the Congress on its “double standards” — signing contracts with Adani while accusing him of corruption.
Related: Rahul Gandhi demands Adani’s arrest
BRS slams Congress
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao shared an image of Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy with Adani and questioned the Congress’ association with him.
“The great person who tried to cheat the superpower America, The fraudster who bribed the Indian government. The association of BJP and Congress with this Adani is a shame to the country,” he wrote on X in Telugu.
“Don’t know how much he gave to set up the cement factory in Ramannapeta, and don’t know what is Adani’s share in the Musi (rejuvenation/ redevelopment). Such a fraudster and cheat is getting to invest and getting permissions in Telangana,” he added.
Cancel Ambuja Cement Factory Permits Immediately! All the dark deals you made with Adani must be exposed! In your deceptive manoeuvres to loot Telangana properties. How much is your Bhade Bhai share? What is your Adani Bhai share? What is your share of high command?” Rama Rao questioned.
అగ్రరాజ్యం అమెరికానే మోసం చేయాలని చూసిన ఘనుడు..
భారత ప్రభుత్వ అధికారులకు లంచం ఇవ్వజూపిన మోసగాడు..
అదానితో కాంగ్రెస్ – బీజేపీ అనుబంధం.. దేశానికి అవమానం..అరిష్టంరామన్నపేటలో సిమెంట్ ఫ్యాక్టరీ ఏర్పాటు కోసం ఎంత ఇవ్వజూపిండో, మూసీ లో అదానీ వాటా ఎంతో!
ఇలాంటి మోసగాడికి.. దగాకోరుకా..… https://t.co/CxL4jEGNIk
— KTR (@KTRBRS) November 21, 2024
Journalist Madhavan Narayanan, meanwhile, noted the ₹100 crore donation from the Adani Foundation to the Telangana government.
“In case you didn’t notice, the Adani Foundation recently donated Rs 100 crore to the Telangana Government ruled by Congress CM Revanth Reddy. The trouble with Indian politics is that there is no consistency of principle or practice. Loopholes are used to duck issues or questions.
Public sab jaanti hai. Rahul Gandhi has no right to criticize the media when his own party CMs (Gahlot as well) have been seen with the Adanis.
We are in a royal mess. Let’s admit it,” he wrote on X.
In case you didn’t notice, the Adani Foundation recently donated Rs 100 crore to the Telangana Government ruled by Congress CM Revanth Reddy. The trouble with Indian politics is that there is no consistency of principle or practice. Loopholes are used to duck issues or…
— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) November 21, 2024
Adani investments in Telangana
Even while the Congress has been organising protests across the country against Adani Group and its chairman, the Telangana government led by it is wholeheartedly accepting investments by the conglomerate.
In January this year, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Adanis Group announced investments of ₹12,400 crore in Telangana.
Officials of the Telangana Government and Adani Group representatives signed agreements in this regard in the presence of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani.
It had said that Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) will invest over ₹5,000 crore in a 100 MW data centre, Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) — which is allegedly the company in questioning the US indictment — will invest over ₹5,000 crore to set up two pump storage projects (PSPs), Ambuja Cements will invest ₹1,400 crore to set up a 6 MTPA cement plant and Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited will invest over ₹1,000 crore in 10 years to set up a comprehensive ecosystem.
Additionally, in the same month, Revanth Reddy signed an MoU with the Adani Group for power bill collection in Hyderabad’s Old City.
On 19 October, the Adani Group made a ₹100 crore donation to Telangana’s upcoming Skill University at Mucherla.
Related: ‘High-ranking Andhra government official was offered ₹1,750 crore’
Projects in Tamil Nadu
Interestingly, the US court document has also named the state power distribution company of Tamil Nadu in its indictment, with allegations of corruption.
The state is governed by the DMK, a part of the INDIA bloc comprising Congress, which is supposedly in a fight against corruption by the global tycoon.
During the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024 in January, the Adani Group announced that it would invest over ₹42,700 crore in Tamil Nadu through its various group companies.
The investments were Adani Green Energy’s ₹24,500 crore in three pump storage projects, Adani Connex’s ₹13,200 crore in a hyperscale data centre, Ambuja Cements’ ₹3,500 crore in three cement grinding units and Adani Total Gas’ ₹1,568 crore.
Focus on Andhra Pradesh
In the US court report, it was alleged that a high official of the Andhra Pradesh government was promised $228 million (₹1,750 crore) for engaging in business with the Adani Group.
In June 2022, the then-chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy cleared pump storage projects proposed by Adani Green Energy with a total capacity of 3,700 MW.
It was part of the proposed total investment of ₹60,000 crore investment promised by Adani Group in Andhra Pradesh during the World Economic Forum earlier that year.
In March 2023, Adani Group announced the development of 15 GW of renewable power projects over the next few years in Andhra Pradesh. Adani Group has also committed to developing 400 MW of data centre projects in Visakhapatnam.
The Adani Group is also having business in Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
