TG rejects Adani’s Rs100 cr donation for Skills University

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said on Monday that his government had declined Rs 100 crore offered by the Adani Foundation towards the ‘Young India Skills University’ being established in Hyderabad.
The decision comes in the wake of sensational bribery and fraud charges against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and his associates by US prosecutors, in connection with a mega solar power purchase agreement between Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and various states, including neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
On Thursday, when the US court indictment came to light, opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s working president KT Rama Rao alleged a nexus between Revanth and Adani, “even as the Congress high command and leader Rahul Gandhi accused the tycoon of being utterly corrupt, an offender.”
A New York court has charged Adani and seven others, including his nephew Sagar, of promising Rs 2,029 crore in bribes to Indian government officials to obtain contracts.
Revanth said, “Rahul Gandhi has clearly said that the state government or central government must call for tenders. With a proper systematic process in a democratic way, the tenders will be allotted, be it Adani, Ambani or Tata”.
The Chief Minister said that many companies had given funds towards establishing the Young India Skills University. In the same way, the Adani Group also offered us Rs 100 crore. I would like to reiterate the decision by the state government that it will not accept the Rs 100 crore from the Adani Group,” he said.
Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, Government Commissioner for Industrial Promotion, Telangana, wrote to Adani Foundation chairperson Dr Priti Adani in this regard.
“We are thankful to you for committing Rs 100 crore to Young India Skills University on behalf of your foundation in your letter dated October 18, 2024. We have so far not asked any of the donors for a physical transfer of funds since the university had not received the IT exemption under section 80G,” the letter read.
“Though this exemption order has now come recently, I have been instructed by the Chief Minister not to seek a transfer of funds in view of the present circumstances and arising controversies,” (sic) it stated.
On Monday, the winter session of Parliament began but was adjourned for the day after the Opposition created chaos in the House and demanded a discussion into the bribery allegations against the Adani Group.