West Bengal: BJP MLAs walkout amid Guv’s address in Assembly

Kolkata: West Bengal

CV Ananda

Governor

Bose on Wednesday addressed the state assembly for the first time, amid protests by BJP MLAs against “corruption” by the ruling TMC.

The BJP legislators shouted slogans against the Mamata Banerjee government and staged a walkout during the governor’s address. Within a few minutes, after Mr Bose began his address to the House ahead of the state budget

The governor’s speech has no relation with reality. This is one of the most corrupt govts. We staged a walkout as there is no mention of corruption & arrest of TMC leaders.

—Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition next week, BJP MLAs led by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari started shouting slogans against the state government. They also protest- ed against the governor for reading out a speech prepared by the state government, which “has no relation with reality”.

“This is one of the most corrupt governments in the state. We staged a walkout as there is no mention of corruption cases and arrest of TMC leaders in the speech,” Adhikari said.

TMC chief whip Nirmal Ghosh accused the BJP of trying to disturb the assembly proceedings.

Partnership ‘on-hold’ as Total seeks ‘clarity’ on Adani’s Hydrogen Project

Anita Hada

Mumbai: France’s TotalEnergies, one of the largest foreign investors in billionare Gautam Adani’s business empire, said it has put on hold participation in Indian conglomerate’s $50 billion hydrogen project pending results of an audit launched following allegations by a US short-seller.

While the partnership with Adani group was announced in June last year, TotalEnergies has not yet signed a contract, the French group’s chief executive

Patrick Pouyanne said at earnings call. As per the June 2022 announcement, TotalEnergies was to take 25 per cent equity in Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL)the Adani Group firm that is investing $50 billion over 10 years in green hydrogen ecosystem that includes an initial production capacity of 1 million tonnes before 2030.

“Obviously, the hydrogen project will be put on hold until we have clarity,” Pouyanne said.

TotalEner- gies, which has an exposure of $3.1 billion in Adani group, will wait for the result of an audit launched by the con- glomerate in response to allegations of accounting and financial fraud levelled by Hindenburg Research.

Gautam Adani

Adani group has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them malicious and an “attack on India”. “It was announced, nothing was signed. It doesn’t exist,” Pouyanne said, referring to the hydrogen venture. “Mr Adani has other things to deal with now, it’s just good sense to pause things while the audit goes forward.”