Decision on Manesar plant reopening on Monday: Maruti

Maruti Suzuki India will take a decision on Monday on reopening of violence-hit Manesar plant which is locked out since July 21.

Maruti Suzuki India today said it will take a decision on Monday on reopening of its violence-hit Manesar plant where the company had declared a lockout on July 21.

“We expect the police report on violence at the plant on Monday. We will take this up along with the technical assessment report of plant and report on the state of the employees who were injured in the violence,” Maruti Suzuki India Chief Operating Officer (Administration) S Y Siddiqui said.

Once the top management discusses these reports,it would take a decision as how soon it could be reopened,he added.

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The Manesar plant was hit by violence and arson on July 18 during which one senior executive was killed and nearly 100 were injured.

Stating that the safety and well-being of its employees were paramount,the management declared a lockout at the plant on July 21. While announcing the lockout,Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Chairman R C Bhargava had said: “To me,what is more important is safety of my colleagues than producing some cars to make some money,”

Asked how long the lockout will continue he had said,”Maruti is not closed,we will be very inefficient if we take six months. I don’t think we are that bad,we will start at Manesar.”

The Haryana government had announced formation of a special investigation team (SIT) headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravinder Tomar with six inspectors to probe the incident.

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On August 1,the police had arrested 10 office bearers of the Maruti Suzuki Workers’ Union,including its President Ram Meher and General Secretary Sarabjit Singh,taking the total number of workers arrested to 114 in relation to the incident.

Meanwhile in Gurgaon,a local magistrate today remanded the 10 leaders of Maruti Suzuki Workers’ Union who were arrested on August 1 to 14-days judicial custody.

These included Chief Patron Sandeep Dhillon,Vice- President Sohan Kumar,Cashier Suresh Kumar,Legal Adviser Ajmer Singh and Joint Secretary Pawan Kumar along with three Executive Members,Ram Vilas,Amarjeet and Pradeep Kumar.

Already 104 other workers who have been arrested in relation to the plant are in judicial custody.