Accord with Reliance on June 19, says Haryana CM

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced that the joint venture agreement with Reliance Industries to set up a Rs 25,000-crore special economic zone in the state would be signed on June 19.

Debunking reports that "political differences" within the ruling Congress had led to deferment of signing the JV agreement, which was originally scheduled for today, he told reporters here that the pact was postponed because of non-availability of RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani.

"It will now be signed on June 19," Hooda said.

Meanwhile, Congress sources indicated the possibility of action against party MP Kuldeep Singh Bishnoi, son of former chief minister Bajan Lal, for taking a public position against the deal, saying a notice could be issued to him for indiscipline.

Bishnoi had alleged irregularities in the agreement between Reliance and Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation

A government official involved in the development earlier said the postponement was sought by RIL and that there was no change in the terms and conditions.

Ambani, along with his confidante Anand Jain, director of RIL Group company Reliance Ventures, was scheduled to be here for inking the deal for the project, that would be spread over 25,000 acres and entail a total investment of Rs 1,25,000 crore over the next three to four years.

Of this, RIL will account for 20 per cent and is expected to tie-up with other companies for developing the SEZ.