India Inc condemns violence at Maruti's Manesar plant

An anguished India Inc condemned violence in the Maruti Suzuki premises, stating incidents of frequent labour unrest in Gurgaon-Manesar area are compelling industrial units to migrate to other states.

"Assocham expresses its anguish and strongly condemns the violence at Maruti Suzuki premises," its Secretary General D S Rawat said. He said the country cannot afford any disruption in the economic activity at a time when industrial growth is declining.

"In northern India, it is only Gurgaon which is witnessing labour trouble frequently," he said.

Suspecting involvement of certain "outside elements", Rawat said workers and managements in the area should be vigilant. "The frequent labour trouble has been responsible in compelling the existing units to expand outside the State," he added.

For its expansion plans, Maruti Suzuki itself has chosen Gujarat.

Rawat said though Haryana has been attracting investment in services and real estate sectors, the manufacturing base has not been expanding.

Echoing similar views, CII's Deputy Chairman (Northern Region) Jayant Davar said in Jaipur that the violence at the Maruti plant "is extremely unfortunate".

However, he added that in the long run, the incident would not have major impact on industrial environment.

Following a scuffle, Maruti Suzuki's General Manager (HR) Awanish Kumar Dev was burnt to death and 50 others were injured on Wednesday.

Labour unrest has been erupting in the area frequently.

The Maruti had witnessed troubles on three occasions in the last one year causing a total production loss of about Rs 2,300 crore.

As Maruti Suzuki India share price tanked over 9 per cent, investors lost Rs 3,183 crore in a single day in the stock market on Thursday.