YSRCP slams Andhra CM for 'hiding' Adani deal behind Google data centre
Visakhapatnam (PTI): YSRCP senior leader Gudivada Amarnath on Tuesday accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of "misleading" the public over tech giant Google decision to set up a USD 15 billion gigawatt-scale Artificial Intelligence data centre in Visakhapatnam, while "hiding" Adani Group's name in the project.
The southern state and Google inked the pact in New Delhi in the presence of CM Naidu, Google Cloud chief executive Thomas Kurian, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others.
"This so-called Google Data Centre project is nothing but a deliberate attempt by Naidu to mislead the people of Andhra Pradesh," said Amarnath, addressing a press conference here.
The former minister alleged that the project portrayed as a Google investment is actually a joint venture with Adani Group whose name was "deliberately hidden" to avoid scrutiny.
This is not a Google project as claimed by Naidu, he said, adding that it is an Adani data centre whose foundation was already laid during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure as CM between 2019 and 2024 with transparent employment-linked approvals.
Questioning the economic logic of the deal, he asked how the state could justify offering Rs 22,000 crore in subsidies for the "creation of 200 jobs", citing reports from a vernacular newspaper.
Amarnath said that data centres "do not generate significant employment globally," noting that even Sify Technologies chairman had acknowledged this matter recently.
He asserted that during the previous YSRCP government, "Adani was asked to build IT towers and create 25,000 jobs as part of a broader IT ecosystem model".
The former minister asked, "If employment generation was truly the goal, why didn't Naidu demand a Google Development Centre instead of handing over land, power and subsidies to corporates?"
According to Amarnath, the agreement extends massive incentives, including 500 acres of land at 25 per cent rebate, Rs 2,200 crore capital subsidy, Rs 1,000 crore annual power subsidy, 15-year electricity duty waiver and 20-year transmission charge waiver.
He claimed that the project would consume one million units of power per hour - equivalent to Visakhapatnam's entire city demand and 5 TMC of water from Polavaram, raising serious concerns over resource allocation.
Amarnath criticised the project as an instance of "corporate exploitation" backed by Naidu, alleging that Vizag's resources were being handed over without generating jobs, revenue or public benefit.
The AI hub at Visakhapatnam will be Google's largest outside the US and include a data centre fuelled by clean energy and a fibre-optic network.
Business tycoon Gautam Adani said his company AdaniConneX would partner with Google on the project, along with Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest mobile operator.
CM Naidu said the state government contacted Google immediately after coming to power and pursued the tech giant relentlessly, culminating in a USD 15 billion investment in data centres.
"As soon as the coalition government (NDA alliance) came to power, we contacted Google. We could reach the target only with relentless follow-up," Naidu said in an interaction with MPs, MLAs, and TDP leaders after returning from New Delhi, according to a press release.
With the establishment of Google AI data centres in Visakhapatnam, India will witness rapid growth in sectors such as education, health, and agriculture, the CM added.
Calling it a breakthrough for promoting Visakhapatnam as a major IT hub, he said IT Minister Nara Lokesh played a key role in bringing Google to the city.
Naidu urged party leaders to raise awareness among people about the upcoming Google AI data centre in Visakhapatnam.
According to the chief minister, Google AI data centres will have a transformative effect on the port city similar to Microsoft’s impact on Hyderabad years ago.
"The entry of Microsoft changed the IT scenario in Hyderabad, and now Google AI data centres will bring an AI revolution to Visakhapatnam," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India progressing under PM Modi, Karnataka heading towards decline: Union Minister Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said while India is moving steadily towards becoming the world’s third-largest economic power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Karnataka is heading in the opposite direction under the Congress government.
Speaking at a programme to mark the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, along with the Atal Award presentation and Good Governance Day celebrations, the JD(S) leader said Karnataka was once a model state for governance and development.
ALSO READ: Second World Ayurveda Summit begins in Bengaluru
“Karnataka was once synonymous with exemplary governance. It had adopted an outstanding development model and emerged as a leader for the entire nation. But under the Congress government’s administration, all these distinctions have been lost, and the State is now moving in the opposite direction,” Kumaraswamy said.
He alleged that the current dispensation has completely damaged the education sector, noting that Karnataka was once a frontrunner in education.
“Karnataka, which once ranked first in good governance, has reached such a state today. Frivolous politics is being played in a good State. Administration across all departments; including health, education, agriculture and revenue has deteriorated. People must now seriously introspect,” he said.
Asserting that the era of good governance must return, Kumaraswamy said people are fed up with the misgovernance of this government.
Bengaluru, once the IT-BT capital and a hub of education and technology, has seen its infrastructure completely deteriorate, he said.
"The state government lacks the mindset to accept even well-intentioned and expert advice. It has developed a culture of speaking irresponsibly even about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”
Noting that the state has all the potential and capacity to move forward, the union minister said, “At a time when India is stepping forward to become the world’s third-largest economic power under Modi government, one wonders in which direction Karnataka is heading? It is moving backwards and sliding into decline.”
Remembering Vajpayee as “Ajatashatru”, a leader without enemies who rendered long and distinguished service to the nation, Kumaraswamy said leaders like Vajpayee are rare today.
“His contributions as External Affairs Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Prime Minister were immense. He was a visionary leader who took the BJP from just two seats to 170 seats in Parliament,” he added.
Expressing concern over growing unrest, he said, “Karnataka must once again become a garden of peace for all communities. There is unrest in society. When one looks at what is happening within families, it causes anxiety. While technology is advancing and economic strength is increasing, there is fear even in turning on the television in the morning. There is no peace of mind for anyone. It is for this reason that I have advocated teaching the Bhagavad Gita at the school level. Unfortunately, politics is being unnecessarily mixed into this issue."
