Muthiah ready to bury the hatchet to end family feud

Adopted son of veteran businessman and former MP M A M Ramasamy, M A M R Muthiah said he is willing to accept a fair resolution to the Chettinad family feud, since livelihood of thousands of families is at stake.

Muthiah said he was ready for a compromise with his father at any point of time. “Since my father is old and his health condition is bad, he should allow young people to run the business,” Muthiah said.

The family feud came to light recently with Ramasamy complaining that he was being threatened. “Till date I have not taken any wrong step and the guiding factor had always been the interests of the Chettinad family and the interest of the thousands of families whose livelihood is dependent on the group,” Muthiah said.

“Several times meetings were arranged by well-wishers to resolve differences. On every such occasion, I had apologised to my father,” he said.

“I had emphasised my ardent wish and desire to unite with my father, which can happen only if he is taken away from the influence of vested elements,” Muthiah added.

Claiming that no issue can separate him from his father and the difference is something normal in any business family, Muthiah, who is the managing director of Chettinad Cements, said, “Except in this case, it is being magnified manifold by vested interests and I re-emphasise my resolve to sort out the differences.”  

Stating that he still could not understand what the problem was, Muthiah said: “What I can visualise is that my father is angry with me. Unless he talks to me, how can I find a solution the issue.”

Muthiah also rubbished reports that he is trying to sell the “Chettinad Palace” and said, “As a son, all the property will come to me, and why should I wrest that.”