Industrialists and members of the business fraternity strongly condemned the assault on Kinetic Group chairman Arun Firodia, 65, on Monday evening at the Kinetic Engineering Limited plant in Ahmednagar, allegedly by four-time Shiv Sena MLA Anil Rathod and his supporters.
On Monday afternoon, Rathod and others were protesting against the alleged suspension of 46 workers at the plant. Firodia, in his complaint to the Ahmednagar police station, said he was returning to Pune when he was informed about the MLA’s visit. Firodia alleged that he was slapped by Archana, a Shiv Sena activist, in front of police officers.
Although both Firodia and Rathod filed cross-complaints, they were withdrawn on Tuesday after minister of state for home Ramesh Bagwe intervened and held closed-door parleys with them.
“Our company officials informed Rathod that all the suspended workers have already been taken back two months ago,” Firodia said in his complaint, alleging that Rathod and his men snatched his gold chain and smashed the windshield of his vehicle. According to the complaint filed by Rathod, Firodia refused to listen to them and used abusive language.
Rathod also alleged that when they reached the plant, company officials came out and started an altercation. “They snatched my gold chain and even broke the windshields of our vehicles,” Rathod said in his complaint. Police later lodged a complaint against Firodia, too.
Mukesh Malhotra, president of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industries (MCCIA), said in a statement, “Such acts of indiscriminate and motivated physical assault are strongly condemned by all members of the chamber and all right-thinking people.”
Ravi Pandit, former president of the MCCIA and chairman and CEO of KPIT Cummins, said the chamber will write to all major parties to discourage such uncivilised ways of resolving a dispute.
Praj Industries chairman Pramod Chaudhari, also head of the Confederation of Indian Industries (Maharashtra state), said effective steps are needed to stop such acts.
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