Submitted by Aditya Rao on August 22, 2008 - 8:11am.
Earlier today, the Chairman of
the Tata Group made a very strong statement in a press conference: “We perceive that we may not be wanted……if
people think that we will not move out of Singur, they’re wrong. We would,
whatever be the cost.”
In Tata Motors’ long term
interests Singur has become a flash point and a hot bed for political activity.
The average Indian will however be synonymous with Singur as the chief
production facility of the World’s cheapest car. The much talked about 1 lakh
people’s car or the Nano.
This statement is the first clear
indication by Ratan Tata that he isn’t interested in dealing with the violent
politics of Singur. Ratan Tata is not the type of man who uses the media to
play around which means that today’s statement is a forecast of what WILL happen unless things change at
ground zero in Singur.
When the month of February started
information began doing the rounds that the launch of the Tata Nano would be
delayed by at least a year. We’d be able to buy it only sometime next year. The
top brass at the company including its Managing Director Ravi Kant remained non
committal about the Nano, making statements to the effect that led us to
believe that we’d see the world’s cheapest car only in 2010.
It was a year ago that Ratan Tata
of the Tata Group unveiled his biggest automobile achievement: a car made
indigenously that would cost an amazing 1 lakh rupees – the Nano.
Since then nine out of ten things for the Chief of the Tata Group have gone wrong.
The Nano plant located in West Bengal became a political pawn for agricultural
land which made the manufacture of the car near impossible.The recession hit,
rendering the entire auto industry worldwide in a drought .The Nano plant had
to finally move to the state of Gujarat at the end of the year. Just when it
seemed that everything was over the dreadful attack on the Tata Group’s Taj Mahal
Hotel happened. 
It was probably the last straw
for Tata Motors when two of their security guards were beaten up by a mob .What
was worse is that this happened in the night despite heavy police presence
early on Tuesday. Both guards sustained severe injuries and are now
recuperating. Less than 24 hours after this incident the crew at the Tata
factory in Singur have been told to slowly start moving out all their manufacturing
equipment and relocate.Though no formal announcement has been made that the Tatas
have finally decided to walk out of West Bengal with their Nano, it is quite
safe to assume the same.
Tata Motors is in a mood to
dominate the Indian auto industry, at least four wheeler wise. Whether they can
upstage the Maruti group is something only time and strategy will tell. Known
as a company that makes cars for the middle income sector Tata Motors was keen
to shake off that tag aiming to diversify. The acquisition of Land Rover and
Jaguar was of little surprise.
