At his last AGM as Chairman, Ratan Tata says Singur brings sadness

Tata group’s outgoing chairman Ratan Tata on Friday expressed a sense of sadness that Tata Motors was unable to set up a factory in Singur in West Bengal.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of Tata Tea in Kolkata, his last for the company, Mr. Tata said he was not angry at not being able to set up the factory, and did not rule out setting up a plant in the state when the political situation improves.

“When the political environment is more friendly, we will be here,” Mr. Tata said.

The 74-year-old bachelor steps down as the chairman of the group in December, and will hand over the reins to Cyrus Mistry, now deputy chairman.

“Singur doesn't bring any sense of anger, just a sense of sadness that we couldn't do anything here…who knows one day there will be a Tata Motors factory in West Bengal,” Mr Tata said.

Tata Motors’ plans to set up a factory in Singur had stirred controversy with Trinamool Congress leader and now chief minister Mamata Banerjee opposing the acquisition of farmland. The company pulled out on October 3, 2008, and five days later announced that the plant will be set up in Sanand in Gujarat.