“Ms (Mamata) Banerjee has pulled the trigger,” Tata said, squarely blaming the Trinamool chief for forcing the “painful decision” on him.
Tata blames Trinamool chief for Nano pullout
KOLKATA: The festive mood in Bengal suddenly paled on Friday evening when Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata announced to a packed press conference in Kolkata that he was moving the Nano project out of the state.
“Ms (Mamata) Banerjee has pulled the trigger,” Tata said, squarely blaming the Trinamool chief for forcing the “painful decision” on him.
Hinting that industrial competitors may have some role in Trinamool’s anti-Nano stir, he said, “Sometimes I wonder where the funds and logistics for the agitation came from.”
After a two-hour meeting with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, a visibly-disturbed Tata announced the pullout in a grief-stricken voice.
“It is unfortunate that we had to take such a painful decision. In August end this year, I said I cannot compromise the security and safety of my employees. At that point, I still expected some kind of understanding on the part of Mamata Banerjee. However, I saw that the agitation accelerated. Taking all this into consideration, we have finally decided to shift the project out of West Bengal,” he said.
Tata said Bhattacharjee tried his best to persuade him to stay back in Singur. “But I had to explain to him that it is a time-bound project and hence, in the face of such an agitation we have no option. With tears I have to make such an announcement. I still have great respect for Bhattacharjee and I have assured him that this decision will not affect our future investment plans in West Bengal,” he said in a quivering voice.
Admitting that Bhattacharjee had promised all security, Tata said, “The security of contractors, vendors and employees is my responsibility and I cannot shift it to the chief minister. I have always said we do not want to run a factory under police protection.”
He did not spell out the new Nano venue. “We have got a couple of offers. We will make an announcement in the next few days,” Tata said.
Asked what the company planned to do with the land at Singur, he said they would soon discuss the matter with the West Bengal government.
When a scribe asked him wasn’t the pullout contrary to the great Tata legacy, Tata became agitated. “Can I answer this question in an aggressive manner? Why don’t you ask this question to Mamata Banerjee? We have not taken this decision voluntarily. She has forced us to take this decision,” he said.
Asked about the future of the Singur locals already employed at the Nano plant, Tata said, “Those who have received training will be reallocated suitably.”
r_sumanta@dnaindia.net
m_madhumita@dnaindia.net
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