Govt rules out Maoist hand in unrest at Maruti plant

Maoist rebels had no hand in the July violence at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant that left one executive dead, a senior government official has said.

Maoist rebels had no hand in the July violence at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant that left one executive dead, a senior government official has said.

The official said the Maoists were trying to gain footholds in urban areas in line with their declared strategy, but this did not mean that they had succeeded so far.

Neither Haryana police nor the Intelligence Bureau has been able to find any link between the trade union leaders and the Maoists, the official said on conditions of anonymity.

Maruti Suzuki chairman GM Bhargava had on Thursday hinted at Maoist involvement in the violence.

“There were left-wing extreme elements who incited violence at Maruti. It was a conspiracy which was kept within a small group of people,” he told a television channel.

The Union home ministry had promptly promised to examine Bhargava’s charge but did not find any information to back the claim.

“We have made inquiries and are told that so far, there is no Maoist link,” the official said, pointing out that all the trade union leaders allegedly involved in the violence have been held.

“The Haryana police has told the home ministry that none of the union leaders had any links with any organisation linked to the Maoists,” the official said.