Mayhem at Maruti

The Maruti plant at Manesar looks like a war zone, heavily fortified with over a 1,000 policemen and riot police in helmets and bullet proof vests. Not without reason. Employees of the plant went on a rampage on July 19, smashing cars and setting fire to buildings in yet another example of the working class violently voicing its dissent against the management.

The fracas begun when the union demanded that a worker Jiya Lal, who had slapped his supervisor following an altercation, be reinstated after he was suspended. At first, the management and union members tried to resolve the issue amicably. But soon the talks disintegrated into violence. Union members attacked the company's senior management with chairs and rods, broke cars and set fire to the security office and the fire safety room at the plant. Avinish Dev Kumar, HR Manager, lost his life and 96 others were severely injured. RC Bhargava, the Chairman of Maruti, announced an indefinite lockout.

The decision is expected to result in an estimated daily loss of Rs 75 crore to Maruti. But the management says it cannot risk the life and safety of employees. "We'll wait for the Haryana government's inquiry report before we consider restoring the facility," Bhargava asserted dismissing rumours of moving out of Haryana. So far 88 workers have been arrested and have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. According to DCP Maheshwar Dalal, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the incident.

But the incident should not be dismissed easily. It is a symbol of the simmering discontent among India's have-nots as they demand parity in wages and prestige. As Wipro boss Azim Premji warns: Maruti violence is a symptom of growing "social unrest" in India.