Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s U-turn on Monday by announcing that the Rs 100 crore donation announced by Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani to a university being set up in the state, has created political uproar.
Reddy said the Telangana government will not accept the Adani Group’s donation to the Young India Skill University. The development comes amid a political battle as the Center over fresh allegations against the Adani Group and the Congress-led Opposition is demanding a JPC probe (a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation) in the matter.
Incidentally, Revanth Reddy makes this statement hurriedly before his departure to New Delhi to meet party supremo Rahul Gandhi, who has been carrying out a stir against Adani. Pointing out his opportunistic relationship with Adani’s, the opposition questioned the fate of Rs 12,000 worth agreements reached with Adani Group in Davos recently.
The chief minister said the decision was taken since Adani’s announcement gave rise to “unnecessary discussions” that it may appear favouring the state government or the CM, if the donation was accepted,
He said so far the Telangana government has not accepted a single rupee into its account from any organisation, including Adani Group. “I and my Cabinet colleagues do not want to be involved in unnecessary discussions and situations that would dent the image of the state government or my own. That is why, on behalf of the state government, our official Jayesh Ranjan wrote a letter (to Adanis)”.
“Due to the (present) situation and controversies, the Telangana government is not ready to accept the Rs 100 crore donation you (Adani) generously offered,” Reddy said.
Meanwhile, BJP State General Secretary Dr. Kasam Venkateshwarlu demanded that Revanth Reddy tell whom he was afraid of and returned the cheque. Why was he not afraid of Rahul Gandhi when the agreement was made? Did Rahul Gandhi say that he would not give an appointment if the cheque was not returned?, he asked.
BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao questioned him about the fate of the Rs 12,400 crore agreements Revanth Reddy made with Adani in Davos. Harish Rao questioned him about the conspiracies he has been making to hand over the state’s DISCOMs to Adani and privatize them.
