Looking for harmonious, constructive relations: Mukesh to Anil

Reliance shareholders looking for a definitive sign of peace between the Ambani brothers today got what they wished - a call from Mukesh Ambani for harmonious and constructive relationship with younger sibling Anil.

Although Anil did not turn up for the 36th Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries, as was speculated in the market and the media, Mukesh bellowed the message of peace loud and clear from the Birla Matoshree auditorium here.

"With legal dispute (over supply of natural gas from RIL to Anil Ambani Group's power plants) behind us, we look forward to a harmonious and constructive relationship with Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group," Mukesh said, exactly five years to the day when he and his brother Anil split the Reliance empire created by their father Dhirubhai Ambani.
    
The brothers have been battling ever since Ambani family patriarch Dhirubhai Ambani passed away in July 2002 and split the businesses between them under an agreement overseen by their mother Kokilaben on June 18, 2005.
    
The following year, the brothers began a long-drawn court battle over gas supply. It was only after Supreme Court turned down Anil group's plea for cheap gas from RIL last month that the two sides showed willingness to reconcile.
    
During the question and answer session at the AGM, many shareholders commended the return of normalcy in relations between the brothers.