Punjab govt defends deal with Reliance

Chandigarh, May 15 (UNI) Facing criticism from the opposition over its proposed deal with Reliance to set up agricultural hubs in Punjab, the state government today defended its move to offer cheap land to the industrial group for the purpose.

Stating that it was the government's policy to give incentive to companies investing more than Rs 1000 in the state, Finance Minister Surinder Singla said: ''We are not offering them free land and there is no underhand deal with the Reliance. It's all very transparent.'' Talking to reporters here, Mr Singla said the government was taking ''more than enough'' safeguards in this regard. ''We won't let the land be used for any other purpose than ''agriculture.'' He said the agriculture in Punjab had reached such a crisis stage wherein a second green revolution was not possible without putting in large amounts of investment and the proposed deal with the Reliance was a big step in that direction.

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