No plans to enter contract farming, won’t buy any agricultural land, Nothing to Do with new Farm Laws: Reliance Industries

Biznextindia : Mukesh Ambani controlled Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), which is currently facing the wrath of agitating farmers in Punjab and Haryana, on Monday said that it has nothing whatsoever to do with the three farm laws currently debated in the country, and in no way benefits from them.

In a statement, RIL said that Jio or any other affiliate of the parent company have not done any “corporate” or “contract” farming in the past, and have absolutely no plans to enter this business. Neither Reliance nor any of its subsidiaries has purchased any agricultural land, directly or indirectly, in Punjab/Haryana or anywhere else in India, for the purpose of “corporate” or “contract” farming. The company absolutely no plans to do so in the future.

RIL also made it clear that  its subsidiary Reliance Retail has never entered into long-term procurement contracts to gain unfair advantage over farmers or sought that its suppliers buy from farmers at less than remunerative prices, nor will it ever do so.

In the last few weeks, there have been reports of over 1,500 mobile towers and telecom gear owned by Jio are vandalised in Punjab, allegedly by farmers protesting against the new farm laws.

The company has filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against vandalism of its communication towers. It urged the High Court to issue a suitable order to help protect its employees and property from vandalism. Some vested interests and business rivals were behind the vandalism, RIL said.