Build bridges, don’t sell vegetables: Badal to Reliance

This is not the first time that Reliance has had to face a hostile Government in Punjab. Soon after coming to power in March, the SAD(B)-Akali Government had made it clear that it will not give any land to the corporate giant in Punjab despite an agreement with its predecessor.

When in Opposition, three SAD MLAs, including Capt Kanwaljit Singh, now a Cabinet minister, had moved a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the agreement between Reliance and the Amarinder Government.

Badal said: “Reliance and other such companies should compete with big companies; they should make bridges, why open vegetable shops. This way, the big fish will eat the smaller fish.” While ruling out any arm-twisting to throw these companies out, saying “the Government cannot legally act against any company,” the CM asserted these companies must act voluntarily.

Echoing these views, Punjab Industry Minister Manoranjan Kalia said: “They have the Mittals and other corporate houses to take on, why should they compete with the small trader?”

Much before the CM’s statements, the state Government has been thinking of revoking the land allotment to Reliance’s multi-crore farm-to-fork agri initiative in the state. The decision to allot over 163 acres of land at Goindwal Sahib in Amritsar to Reliance is likely to be rolled back.

The Congress Government had decided to allot land to Reliance Industries at various places, but Reliance had chosen not to pursue the allotment. Now the government plans to set up an SEZ on this land. The move will, however, require the final nod of the Council of Ministers.

While Reliance is moving ahead with its agri-initiative in Punjab, company officials say they have not taken any piece of land that was intended to be allotted to them as part of their agreement with the Amarinder Government.