Telangana government not to accept Adani’s Rs 100 crore donation

HYDERABAD: Following the indictment of billionaire businessman Gautam Adani by prosecutors in the United States on charges of fraud and bribery involving governments of several states, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday announced his decision not to accept the donation of `100 crore promised by the Adani Foundation to the Young India Skill University. The decision not to accept the⁣⁣ donation from the Adani Foundation comes in the backdrop⁣⁣ of the decision of the Opposition parties, led by the the Congress, to corner the Modi-led⁣⁣ Union government in the ongoing winter session over the allegations that Gautam Adani⁣⁣ and his associates paid more⁣⁣ than $250 million in bribes to⁣⁣ bag lucrative solar energy⁣⁣ contracts.⁣⁣ It may be mentioned here⁣⁣ that the donation offered by⁣⁣ Adani Foundation, and other⁣⁣ investment proposals, had attracted severe criticism from⁣⁣ the Opposition BRS in the state⁣⁣ which accused Congress of⁣⁣ adopting dual standards. On⁣⁣ October 18, a delegation led by⁣⁣ Gautam Adani met the chief⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ minister in Hyderabad and⁣⁣ handed over a cheque for Rs 100⁣⁣ crore as donation for the Skill⁣⁣ University.⁣⁣ Clarifying his party’s stand⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ on investments, the chief min-⁣⁣ ister said that the Congress was⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ not against investments, but⁣⁣ against corrupt and illegal⁣⁣ practices. He said that it⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ was too early for him to⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ comment on blacklisting the Adani Group⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ without knowing whether the group would file⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ bids.⁣⁣ He made it clear that⁣⁣ no company will be⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ given undue exemptions or⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ relaxations,⁣⁣ or freebies.⁣⁣ He also took a jibe at the former chief⁣⁣ minister K Chandrasekhar⁣⁣ Rao, alleging that the latter⁣⁣ used Adani’s chartered flights.⁣⁣ Revanth to meet MPs in⁣⁣ Delhi for matters of state⁣⁣ Quashing reports that his⁣⁣ Delhi visit was in connection⁣⁣ with Cabinet expansion, the⁣⁣ chief minister said that he was⁣⁣ visiting the national capital to⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ attend the wedding of Lok Sab-⁣⁣ ha Speaker Om Birla’s⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ daughter.⁣⁣ He, however, said that he⁣⁣ would hold a key meeting with⁣⁣ Congress MPs from the state⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ over the issues to be highlighted in the Lok Sabha and Rajya⁣⁣ ⁣⁣Sabha.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Revanth said that the meeting will chalk out an action⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ plan to get funds and permis-⁣⁣ sions for projects. Not going to Delhi to touch⁣⁣ someone’s feet to escape from⁣⁣ cases or to ask the Governor⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ not to give permission for pros-⁣⁣ ecution,” the chief minister⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ said, referring to BRS working⁣⁣ president KT Rama Rao.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ He also called the latter “Psycho Ram”.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Reacting to a question, the⁣⁣ chief minister said that the⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Congress was in favour of ballot over EVMs.