BENGALURU: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani met Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for about 30 minutes at the latter’s residence on Sunday morning, a meeting that both sides described as a routine courtesy call but which unsettled sections of Congress.
Some senior Congress leaders, speaking to TNIE on condition of anonymity, said, “It was avoidable optics for DKS.’’ Other leaders from the party, when contacted, preferred not to comment on the issue.
Shivakumar told reporters that Adani had sought the appointment and that “nothing was discussed” beyond formalities. “It was just a courtesy call,” he said, adding that Adani Group already has several projects under way in the state.
But it did little to quiet surprise within Congress. Many workers and leaders were reportedly taken aback by the industrialist’s visit to the CM’s residence. Sources, however, said this is not the first meeting between the two, and they had met earlier too.
The timing is notable. Adani Group has emerged as the lowest bidder for the ambitious 16.75-km twin-tunnel project linking Hebbal in north Bengaluru to Silk Board Junction in the south.
The infrastructure corridor, to be built at a cost of Rs 22,267 crore, is expected to ease the city’s notorious traffic congestion. While the bidding process remains competitive, the meeting coming close to developments in the project has raised questions.
Before meeting Shivakumar, Adani visited the Art of Living ashram, where he met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and touched the latter’s feet.
Ashoka questions Congress over Adani
BJP leader R Ashoka questioned the Congress over its stand on Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani. He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has often accused Adani of being close to the BJP, while the Karnataka government has “rolled out the red carpet” for him.
Adani was in Bengaluru and met Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday. Ashok asked whether the Congress leadership had approved the state government’s engagement with Adani and suggested that CM Shivakumar should advise Rahul on the issue.
He also criticised the government’s Tunnel Road, alleging that it was attempting to acquire land from parks and lakes to avoid the high cost of acquiring private land. Ashok urged Rahul to speak out against any attempt to use park or lake land for the project.