Disney Denies It Asked for India Land

Walt Disney Co. on Sunday denied a newspaper report in Hong Kong that it lobbied the Indian government to acquire land to build a theme park outside Delhi.

The South China Morning Post reported Sunday that Disney had asked Indian authorities for land for a park site.

“Disney has approached us for land outside Delhi to build a theme park. The company is very upbeat about the project. Its top officials are lobbying hard to wangle a very, very big plot,” the Post quoted an unidentified official at India’s Urban Development Ministry as saying.

Disney Chief Executive Michael Eisner and President Robert Iger, who has been picked to replace Eisner, visited India last week and met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the report said.

But the Post quoted a Singh spokesman as saying the executives did not lobby the Indian leader. “Nobody asks the PM for land. It was a courtesy call,” the unidentified spokesman was quoted as saying.

Disney spokeswoman Michele Nachum confirmed the meeting between Singh and the two Disney executives but said she didn’t know what was discussed.

She declined to say whether Disney hoped to build a theme park in India. “We’re constantly evaluating strategic markets around the world to grow our parks and resorts business and the Disney brand,” Nachum told Associated Press.

Indian officials were not available for comment Sunday.

Disney’s latest theme park in Asia, Hong Kong Disneyland, is due to open Sept. 12. Critics have questioned whether the government has been too accommodating to Disney. Hong Kong taxpayers are paying for most of the park’s $3.5 billion cost. Officials say the park will boost employment and tourism.