Adding To Woes Of Adani Group: Telangana rejects Adani’s Rs 100-crore CSR Donation
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy blames ‘present situation and controversies’ for his government’s decision
Telangana Chief Minister Anumula Revanth Reddy addressing a media conference in Hyderabad on Adani donation issue. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu also seen
I and my Cabinet colleagues don’t 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 about not accepting the donation. - A Reventh Reddy, Telangana CM
Hyderabad: In a significant development, Telangana Chief Minister AnumulaRevanth Reddy on Monday said the State government would not accept the Rs 100 crore donation announced by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani for the Young India Skill University being set up in the State.
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 while addressing a press conference. 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 informing them about not accepting the donation”.
“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.
He said the letter clearly requested the Adani Foundation not to transfer Rs 100 crore to the university. The State government’s attempts to obtain Income Tax exemptions for the donations made to the varsity fructified recently, the CM said. Reddy said that the amount proposed by Adani was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
On October 18 this year, Adani Foundation announced Rs100-crore donation for Young India Skills University being set up by the Telangana government. Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group, met the Chief Minister and handed over letter in this regard. However, the Telangana government has not received the amount till now due to the proposed university not receiving Income Tax exemption.
