[nickatnite]

Why doesn't West Bengal want us, asks Ratan Tata

New Delhi: Even as the agitation in Singur is set to intensify, TATA Motors has assured the West Bengal government they would not be pulling out of the project until forced to.

West Bengal Industries Minister, Nirupam Sen is meeting industrialists on the issue, even as Trinamool Congress leader, Mamata Banerjee is planning a rally at the project site.

"He (Ratan Tata) has invested a lot in this project. It is not his intention to pull out until he is forced to do so by the circumstances. He has said earlier that it is the people of West Bengal who have to take the call," Sen said.

TATA Motors Chairman, Ratan Tata met Nirupam Sen on Thursday night and expressed his anxiety over the continuing agitations.

"We are deeply concerned about the people of Bengal. It's for the people of Bengal to decide whether we are going to be an unwanted citizen or a resposible corporate. If it is the latter then we will be happy. If not, then we would have to just pursue our plans regardless," Ratan Tata said.

However, he was quick to add: "If people say that that we will protect our investments irrepsective of anything then they are wrong. I will not bring in my employees to Singur if there is threat of them being beaten up. TATA will do whatever necessary to protect its employees."

"I want to understand why the TATA group is unwanted in West Bengal. There is a definite concern of not being where we're wanted and where people are suspicious of us. If there is this feeling among the people, then we will exit the state," Ratan Tata said.

"We have plans to launch Nano by October this year, but many people don't want that to happen and it's very easy for them to prevent it from happening, but I have made a major investement here. To move from here will be at a great cost not only for the TATA Group but also for West Bengal," he added.

Ratan Tata also said that he hoped West Bengal doesn't get characterised as a trouble spot in India.


source:Why doesn't West Bengal want us, asks Ratan Tata

They never should have invested in West Bengal knowing the local politics of that region. Kerala for the same reason. There are so many states in India, after playing them against each other Tata would have got a decent deal in practically any other state. TN, NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka......and Tata had to go ahead and build his plant in West Bengal!

Frankly I hope the entire project gets freezed and Tata has to move out. They'll suffer less loss this way. If you think present agitations and disruptions are bad, just wait till production starts.

[Lalvaz]

Well, after reading this article I can figure out why WB lags the rest of the world in Industrialization. Always thought it was a shame considering we have some of the finest brains from WB. Even if the folks there have a grouse against Tata's, you really have to wonder why Industry is not very happy doing business there. Mamata Banerjee really ought to wonder how shes going to provide employment for the people of the region if she remains so opposed to setting up new factories there.

[shankar.balan]

This is truly sad.

Let us not forget that vast tracts of WB, Orissa and the other Eastern states are populated largely by the very poor and uneducated. For all their politicos talk on Leftism and Communism, all successive governmental regimes have completely mis-managed these states. Who has suffered in the bargain? The poor common man, as always!

It is indeed very sad that the short-sightedness of our politicians can cause so much loss to the people, whose elected representatives these self same politicians are! It is clear that the powers that be, wish to remain the powers that be, by fostering such large scale intellectual stagnation of the electoral population!

Indeed, I wish Mr Tata had planned this huge and prestigious investment somewhere in Southern/ Central India - TN / Karnataka/ Maharashtra where the Auto Industry is already quite solidly entrenched as is the Auto Ancillary Industry. Levels of education/ skilled labour etc are already available to a great extent here compared with many other places - it would have been a marriage made in heaven and the people of India would have got the NANO on time, because as he said, " A Promise is a Promise".

His point is absolutely valid, when he mentions that he hoped WB doesnt get classifed as a trouble spot.

What a first class company the Tata's are and how much they have done for this country's development. It is indeed a shabby treatment that is being meted out to them by certain short sighted, venal, completely idiotic characters, for no reason other than to create trouble and difficulty.

Dont they have even an iota of a sense of National pride?
An Indian company has achieved a World's FIRST in the face of what everyone else claimed to be impossible- the 1 lac NANO car at a price of 2500 USD!

And now, instead of going all out to support them and see this project come to completion, the politicos create such havoc and difficulty!

India, Whither Goest Thou?

[rajchetan]

MB is not apposed to TATA or any other Organization. She is only using this as a method to get political benefit so that she can become the CM.

Her ambition is to become the CM. But at What Cost???????

I only hope TATA don't have to pull out else they will have Hugh Losses as well as loosing out on the Business.

For Kolkatta the biggest disadvantage is that if TATA pull out then it very unlikely that any other company/ MNC/ Organization will look at Kolkatta.

It hurts me how one of the most advanced cities in the early '80ies n '90es is struggling for Industrialization. I am amazed that they had the first Metro rail in India.

No offense to Kolkatt'ins, I hope the people at least realize whats best for them and not become Political Dummies.

[asr245]

Originally Posted by SuperSyn

They never should have invested in West Bengal knowing the local politics of that region. Kerala for the same reason. There are so many states in India, after playing them against each other Tata would have got a decent deal in practically any other state. TN, NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka......and Tata had to go ahead and build his plant in West Bengal!

Frankly I hope the entire project gets freezed and Tata has to move out. They'll suffer less loss this way. If you think present agitations and disruptions are bad, just wait till production starts.

Dont know about the cause of this agitation but if TATAs (a 100% Indian company) are thrown out, WB can pretty much forget about any MNC investing there for a long time. Dont know why they went there anyway. From what I hear from my colleague (who's a bengali and from calcutta) they have a bandh there for just about any reason. Sometimes just to have a bandh they have a bandh.

[watashi75]

It is sad. If we didn't have bandhs, strikes, curfews and cricket, India would have progressed economically by 1 year at least in saved man hours.

[Fountainheader]

Originally Posted by watashi75

It is sad. If we didn't have bandhs, strikes, curfews and cricket, India would have progressed economically by 1 year at least in saved man hours.

Hehe. I liked the mention of the word Cricket here.

The main problem with Left-ruled states such as West Bengal and Kerala is the typical herd-mentality. Blame it on Communism or Socialism or Lungi-ism, junta here just seem to blindly follow anything and everything. And if something's left out - they'll oppose it.

I am pretty sure Tata Motors would have done all their homework, before finalising on Singrur. But I think they have been cheated by the WB Govt and their people. That being the sole cause of the entire mess, a respectable company like Tata should better care more for its employees than for the people of the state.

[anujmishra]

Dear Ratan Tata, please gift a Nano to each and every agitators they will stop agitation.

Jokes Apart! This is expected and I believe that it will cool down after 1 - 2 years as government is not paying much heed to the demand of agitators. But for my surprise all farmers will get job in plant whole land has been acquired, they got money as well. Tata also made one hospital over there. It will also boast economy in that area and help local people to become earn more than what they were earning.

God! When India will understand this? Everything is politics and political staged.

[shankar.balan]

or maybe they have a second bandh to recover from the excesses of the first bandh
but jokes apart, they really will stay far behind while the rest of india progresses if this is the attitude.
beautiful city Calcutta and such lovely soft spoken people the Bengalis, why should they suffer on account of idiot politicians?

Originally Posted by asr245

From what I hear from my colleague (who's a bengali and from calcutta) they have a bandh there for just about any reason. Sometimes just to have a bandh they have a bandh.

[snaronikar]

Just heard this news. I do not understand why Ratan tata chose WB to make NANO's instead of sticking on to his mother plant. He has an ample place in Dharwad District of Karnataka also. He could have very well choosen here. If WB govt is not able to ful fil its promise, it is better he moves out and sets up the plant somewhere else (maybe to near to the parent plant).

I know he might have got some sops and lease period of land might be higher. But in WB the industrial unrest is too much which is supported by CITU. (my opinion)

[muralisk]

Truly sad to see the way we are treating one of the most respected industrial house in India. Its a shame of highest order. While, everyone in the world is talking about Nano, and here were trying to settle some petty political issues and hamper the development of both the industry within WB and the local people who will benefit from this project.

I truly wish that some sense does prevail and Tata will be able to launch their car from Singur plant. Once the plant gets into production and when people do get the see Tata's CSR activities, they will realize that they stand to gain in the long run.

[tez]

i would love to hear some views from t-bhpians from West Bengal. May be they have a point of view which is not available to us. Else its really a sad thing that TATA is being forced to move out of WB. Why dont these folks think about the amount of employment and revenue that can be generated?

[agbenny]

Dear Tata,

Welcome to Chennai/ Bangalore. ;-)

I think tata should teach them a lesson and pull out. like some one else said, if they manage to get production started any time, the communists will continue to threaten and extort the factory.
tata should cut its losses and pull out.
if the people are short sighted enough to be led by selfish politicians, they should suffer the consequences.
if tata lead by example and pull out, then everyone else will do the same. then we'll see how the "common man's revolution" works.

what I dont understand is, why did they go to WB? they could have set up in kerala if they were that desperate for trouble.