Violence has implications beyond one company, region: Maruti

Maruti Suzuki on Thursday attributed yesterday's violence at its plant here to an orchestrated act of mob and said such acts of violence have implications beyond one company or region.

"They are negative trigger for existing companies and regions across the country as also for prospective investors and job seekers," the company said in a statement, a day after a senior HR official was killed and about 100 others were injured in factory violence.

Maruti Suzuki, which witnessed strikes on three occasions last year, has already announced plans to set up a new plant in Gujarat at an investment of Rs 4,000 crore, a move which was interpreted as coming against the backdrop of violence in the region.

Gurgaon, an industrial hub neighbouring the national capital, was the scene of large scale violence by workers and outside forces at the Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India's unit and subsequent strikes in other units.

Maruti Suzuki said both its plants in Manesar campus were closed today and it would shortly announce its decision on the next steps with regard to resuming operations in these facilities.

Referring to the problem in the unit, it said by any account it was not an industrial relations problem over wages or working conditions.

"Rather, it is an orchestrated act of mob violence at a time when operations had been normal over the past many months," the statement said.

None of the leaders of Maruti Suzuki Workers' Union (MSWU) could be contacted for their reaction.