Naxalite hand in Maruti violence?

New Delhi, July 23: The bloody and systematic attack on the senior management at Maruti's Manesar plant may have been the result of Naxal influence, according to sources within the government. Intelligence agencies have been asked to investigate whether Maoists are infiltrating trade unions in the Gurgaon-Manesar belt, which has witnessed serious labour trouble in the past few years, added the sources.

The agencies are looking at a couple of trade unions operating in and around Delhi to identify possible Naxal sympathizers within them, or people who could be acting as a front for Naxal elements. The effort is to find out whether Maoist elements have managed to influence trade union leaders.

Meanwhile, social activist Sandeep Pandey — winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2002 — met trade union representatives of Maruti's Gurgaon plant. Another well-known activist, Swami Agnivesh, is understood to have sought time for a meeting.

The sheer brutality of the attack at Maruti's Manesar plant has not only shocked corporate veterans, but also sent alarm bells ringing within the government. A senior Maruti official died in the fire after both his legs were broken and more than 90 others were injured, many seriously. This appears to be much more than ordinary labour unrest or trade union activity, the sources said.

Even old-timers at Maruti are perplexed at the quantum of violence at the factory. "What has happened is an experience that leaves me quite shattered and something I have never seen before. Workers indulged in rioting and mob violence, which is quite inexplicable," Maruti chairman RC Bhargava said. In an interview to TOI, Maruti MD Shinzo Nakanishi confirmed that it appeared to be planned attack, rather than a spontaneous outburst. The mob first smashed CCTV cameras before specifically targeting senior Maruti officials.

"The kind of violence has stunned us. This is more than an industrial relations incident," Maruti's human resources head S Y Siddiqui said.

However, Maruti officials said they were not aware of any parallel investigation by any central agencies. The Haryana government is already looking into the matter.

Attempts to infiltrate the workers' union at Maruti are not surprising considering the huge revenues of the company and the clout it enjoys in the Indian manufacturing sector. Maruti, which had a turnover of over Rs 30,000 crore last fiscal, enjoys nearly 45% share of the Indian car market and a large number of component suppliers are dependent on the company for their business.

Previously, central trade unions like AITUC have tried to break into Maruti's union, but the company management has been firm in thwarting any such moves, not agreeing to any outside affiliation in its workers' bodies.