Suzuki visits Maruti's Gurgaon plant; avoids Manesar

Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation Chairman Osamu Suzuki today said violence at the Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant was a criminal act that cannot be excused and strict action needs to be taken.

Suzuki, who arrived in India yesterday, visited Maruti Suzuki India (MSI)'s plant and Suzuki Motorcycle's facility here under police protection, but avoided going to Manesar.

In the MSI Gurgaon plant, he addressed about 200 senior managers, including from the Manesar facility. As many as 10 managers who were injured in the violence and have rejoined the duty, were also present in the meeting.

According to a source, Suzuki said, "This is a very very sad incident and it was not Union versus management. It was a criminal act and it cannot be excused. A thorough and proper action is needed. A strict action has to be taken.

"Management and Union mutually discuss about working conditions and this happens in all companies. But in no way, one is permitted to kill the other".

In his meeting with Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union, Suzuki rejected the demand for reinstatement of workers who were sacked from the Manesar plant, stating the company cannot work with those who took law into their hand.

Suzuki did not visit the Manesar plant where production resumed on August 21 after a month-long lockout following violence in which a senior official was killed and 100 others injured. As of now, there is no plan for him to visit Manesar.

This is Suzuki's first trip to the country after the violence broke out at the Manesar plant. The MSI has sacked 500 permanent workers allegedly involved in the violence.

He said that Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has promised full support to the company. "Let us work together to promote the growth of Maruti and the economic growth of India," Suzuki told officials.

Tomorrow, Suzuki would be going to Ahmedabad where he would meet Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.