Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said that the state government cannot cancel agreements signed by previous governments with the Adani Group for setting up of a defence production unit in Hyderabad. He said it was the BJP government at the Centre had allowed 100 per cent private investments in the defence sector and it was not under the purview of the state government.
Responding to calls for action against the Adani Group at a book release event on Saturday, Revanth Reddy said, "The state government has no role in this. The BJP government has allowed 100 per cent private investments in the defence sector. The Adani Group established its defence manufacturing facility in Hyderabad based on agreements signed by previous governments. The state government has to honour this.”
“It’s not about Adani or any individual but about the Centre's policy to permit private sector involvement in defence production. The state government cannot unilaterally cancel these agreements," he said and added that the state government's role in this issue is confined to the allotment of land for the defence manufacturing units.
Adani Aerospace and Defence Ltd manufactures counter-drone systems, missiles, and unmanned vehicles at its facility on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
During the event organised to release the book ‘Nuts, Bolts of War & Peace’, authored by former MLC K. Yadava Reddy at Ravindra Bharathi, several political leaders, including former CPM MLA Julakanti Ranga Reddy, voiced concerns about Adani Group’s role in manufacturing Hermes 900 missile drones, which allegedly were supplied to the Israeli military for use in attacks on Palestine.
The Chief Minister criticised the Centre’s handling of territorial disputes with China and internal conflicts in Manipur. He alleged that China had occupied up to 4,000 square kilometres of Indian territory post-2014, a topic he claimed was being deliberately sidelined in parliamentary discussions.
"The rulers at the Centre are raising unnecessary issues in Parliament to prevent discussions on China’s aggression. People are distracted from such important issues," he remarked.
Highlighting the violence in Manipur, Revanth Reddy attributed the unrest to corporate interests.
"Sophisticated weapons like AK-47s are being used, fuelling a civil war. Corporate companies are exploiting the region’s mineral wealth by encouraging conflicts. Shouldn’t the Indian government intervene to establish peace and seize these weapons? Such steps are necessary to restore normalcy."
Speaking about the book’s author Yadava Reddy, the Chief Minister commended his ideological commitment and significant contributions to the Telangana movement.
"Many speak about ideologies, but only a few follow them. Yadava Reddy is one of them," the Chief Minister said. He also lauded the efforts of other leaders like S Jaipal Reddy, highlighting their roles in securing Telangana statehood.
Revanth Reddy called for the publication of a comprehensive book chronicling the history of the Telangana statehood movement, including pivotal issues like the Mulki and non-Mulki disputes, and the contributions of leaders such as Yadava Reddy and Jaipal Reddy.
He said that while some leaders received recognition for their roles in the forefront, many who worked tirelessly behind the scenes were overlooked.
