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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
On Monday, Adani’s port-to-energy conglomerate commenced power export to Bangladesh from its power plant in Jharkhand – a state where Congress is a ruling coalition partner.
Even as Rahul Gandhi, Congress’ failed-yet-only hope against PM Narendra Modi, refuses to relent on his attacks on billionaire Gautam Adani, the party’s governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan continue to offer lucrative projects and help him grow his businesses.
On Monday, Adani’s port-to-energy conglomerate commenced power export to Bangladesh from its power plant in Jharkhand – a state where Congress is a ruling coalition partner.
In a statement, Adani Power Limited (APL) said it has commissioned its first 800 MW ultra-super-critical thermal power generation unit at Godda in Jharkhand and began supplying 748 MW of power to the neighbouring country.
Jharkhand is not the only Congress/UPA-ruled state which has allocated critical infrastructure projects to Adani’s companies. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, both ruled solely by the Congress, too have rolled out the red carpet for the billionaire.
In October last year when Rahul renewed his attacks on Adani alleging a “nexus” with BJP and PM Modi, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot invited Adani to ‘Invest Rajasthan 2022’ summit and referred to him as “Adani Ji” – embarrassing his the Congress party which has accused BJP and PM Modi of favouring deals and crucial projects to him.
Speaking at the summit, Adani announced investments worth ₹65,000 crore over the next five to seven years, creating more than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs – which caused a major embarrassment to Rahul and his coterie of supporters within the party. Adani has investments across multiple industrial sectors in Rajasthan.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is considered close to the Gandhi scion, has been pushing for permission to start the second phase of mining in the PEKB coal block, despite a biodiversity report from the Wildlife Institute of India warning against it.
Adani has faced heat both in India and abroad after a damning report by US-based Hindenburg Research in February accused the conglomerate of “pulling the largest con in corporate history” by manipulating stock prices and committing accounting fraud. The report not only directed more scrutiny towards the Adani Group worldwide but also triggered a massie share sale, taking down his net worth by nearly half.
The business group has faced accusations of wrongdoings in several infrastructure projects in India, Australia, Sri Lanka and some other countries. Take the example of the Godda power plant. It has been met with protests by locals who expressed concerns on depleting groundwater levels and the purchase of prime real estate in the city by the business group.
In Bangladesh, which the Adani group said would receive power at economic rates, experts have argued that the rate is actually very high and advocated for the government to scrap the deal.
According to reports, Bangladesh has sought a revision of the 2017 power purchase agreement with Adani Power Ltd saying the price for the coal-generated energy was too expensive.
In 2017, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) executed a long-term power purchase agreement with APL’s wholly-owned subsidiary Adani Power Jharkhand Limited (APJL) to procure 1,496 MW net capacity power from 2X800 MW ultra-supercritical power project at Godda.
As protests over his business dealings continue with Opposition parties hampering the parliament functioning for a high-level probe, social media users have pointed out that Adani, who was arrested for cheating in 2002, maintains good relationships with almost all political parties. Social media users have posted his old private photos with top BJP leaders as well as incumbent Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
On his part, Adani has said that he has “friends” in all political parties. “I don’t like politics. I am not aligned to any political party. I have friends in all political parties,” he said in an old interview.
