Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], November 22 : Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President YS Sharmila slammed the former Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, questioning him for recieving alleged bribes in deals that he made with the Adani group during his tenure and accusing him of giving Andhra as a blank cheque to Adani.
During a press conference on Friday, the APCC President accused Reddy of making Andhra state an "Adani state."
This came afterthe US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York unsealed criminal charges against Gautam Adani and other executives on Thursday linking them to an alleged bribery scheme.
According to the SEC's allegations, the bribery scheme was allegedly orchestrated to enable the two renewable energy companies to capitalise on a multi-billion-dollar solar energy project that the companies had been awarded by the Indian government.
Sharmila alleged that the president of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Jagan Mohan Reddy, had also received a share from the deal.
"Yesterday, the Justice Department of the USA and the Securities and Exchange Commission made some allegations against Gautam Adani & Co. The Securities Exchange Commission is like SEBI in our country. They say that Gautam Adani and his team have given bribes to top officials who might be CM's of various states. Out of this, Jagan also received it," she said.
"Gautam Adani paid or promised an incentive to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister to enter into a power supply agreement to the tune of USD 200 million... A case has been registered and an arrest warrant has been issued against Gautam Adani in this issue," Sharmila said.
"Adani has insulted the country and Jagan Mohan Reddy has insulted Andhra Pradesh... Jagan got 1750 crores in this deal of electricity agreement. On the other hand, 17,000 crores are being put on the people through DISCOMS. It might not be related but it is an existing fact," she further added.
"How much bribe did Jagan get in this deal? Jagan Mohan Reddy should answer. How many such projects has Jagan Mohan Reddy given to Adani? How much bribe did Jagan Mohan Reddy get in each of these deals? Jagan Mohan Reddy has given Andhra state as a blank cheque to Adani. He has made Andhra state an Adani state," she alleged.
Sharmila further said that the Congress party has demanded that the current Andhra Chief Minister, Chandrabau Naidu, cancel the electricity deal and called for blacklisting Adani.
"The Congress party demands from Chandrababu Naidu that this electricity deal should be cancelled. Adani should be blacklisted. All the deals that Adani and Jagan made should be enquired into and all of them should be reviewed...Congress is also demanding a Joint Parliemenrttay Comission into the corruption of Adani," Sharmila said.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari slammed the Congress party and its allies following the recent allegations from the US SEC against the Adani Group, claiming that during the time of deals, power distribution companies in Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh signed Power Sale Agreements (PSAs) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), stating that "all individuals linked to these corruption allegations are associated with the Congress party and none are from the BJP."
"Recent allegations from the U.S. SEC against the Adani Group have raised serious questions. The SEC claims there were bribery incidents involving former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and other officials. They allege that between July 2021 and February 2022, power distribution companies in Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh signed Power Sale Agreements (PSAs) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). Notably, Andhra Pradesh committed to purchasing 7 gigawatts of solar power--the largest commitment of its kind in India. Congress govt in Chhattisgarh. BJD govt in Odisha. DMK govt in Tamil Nadu. YSRCP govt in Andhra Pradesh. This situation poses a significant question for Rahul Gandhi, since all individuals linked to these corruption allegations are associated with the Congress party and none are from the BJP. Let us not forget ADANI's proximity to Robert Wadra; how can he hold the BJP accountable?" Purandeswari said on X.
The Adani Group has denied the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green Energy.