The Tata Group’s small car project at Singur in West Bengal is drawing more support from top industrialists across the country, after the car maker threatened to pull out of the state citing security concerns.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman and CEO of Bharti Airtel and Venu Srinivasan, chairman, TVS Motor, today issued statements backing the Nano car project at Singur. The support comes after Mukesh Ambani, chairman, Reliance Industries, earlier this week backed the Tata Group’s dream venture.
"The Tatas pulling out of West Bengal would be unfortunate for India. Immediate political dialogue to find a solution towards keeping the project in West Bengal is imperative,’’ Mittal said in the statement.
The impasse over Tata Motors’ Nano car project continued further today with construction work coming to a halt as local politicians continued their opposition.
Srinivasan in a statement said, "Industralisation is imperative for the progress of our country and its development. In this context every effort at greater industrialisation and employment generation has to be welcomed. From that point of view, the importance of the Nano project cannot be overemphasised." Meanwhile, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) expressed "disappointment" over the Singur developments and appealed to the parties involved to arrive at a solution.
"Such a solution would ensure that the investments of over Rs 70,000 crore committed by the industry over the next few years would happen,” the association said in a statement.