India Inc calls for strong security apparatus in financial capital

NEW DELHI/PUNE: India Inc has asked for better political leadership and tougher laws to deal with terrorism. Admitting that Indian business has been detached from the debate on terrorism, FICCI president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said: ���The attacks on Wednesday night were a clear and unambiguous attack on the Indian economy and all its participants. We need to join this debate on terrorism and demand stronger and firmer leadership and approach to this threat of terrorism, including better laws.���

His wasn���t the only blue-chip voice to demand change. Wockhardt CMD Habil Khorakiwala dittoed that sentiment saying: ���This has happened mainly because we have not responded adequately to combat terrorism. The targets identified clearly demonstrates that the intention is to create panic and shatter the confidence of global investors coming to India.���
Across industry, the big concern is loss of credibility.

RPG Group vice chairman Sanjiv Goenka is the most unequivocal about it. ���It is very, very worrisome,��� he said. ���It shakes our confidence in Mumbai.��� Business leaders feel better counter-terror tactics and an established security mechanism are must for India���s financial capital. As JK Paper MD Harsh Pati Singhania said, it���s high time India developed and implemented ���foolproof counter-terrorism mechanisms��� .

Adds Tafe director Mallika Srinivasan : ���Our government must deal firmly with terrorism in order to sustain the environment of peace that is required promote economic progress.��� The sense of anxiety is understandable . Suddenly terror isn���t a political issue any more. This time round it has hit industry squarely in the jaw by picking prime business locations for the attacks .

Many of the hostages and victims are actually senior executives of some of India���s biggest companies. Said Ispat Industries MD Vinod Mittal, ���We have been personally hurt in Wednesday���s terrorist attacks as one of our senior executives was trapped in one of the city hotels. We are relieved that our colleague has come out safely.���


Industry association like CII, FICCI and Assocham have already said the attacks clearly targeted key locations of commercial importance. CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee said: ���We need to learn from international best experiences on dealing with terror and make effective use of technology to ensure security of all public places.��� Assocham president Sajjan Jindal demanded that security personnel be deployed in adequate numbers at all sensitive places including economic hubs.

In neighbouring Pune, an automobile and IT hub that houses a cluster of big factories for Mumbai-based companies , security has been stepped up. While most units are asking their existing security staff to be more alert, some like the Cummins group of companies have tied up with a security agency.

���This security agency tie up is mainly for our people. If any of our staff find themselves in any kind of a situation requiring relief or protection, they just have to call this agency,��� said Cummins Generator Technologies MD Pradeep Bhargava.

Additionally, the group has asked all employees to observe normal precautions and travel only if they must.
The big employers in the Ranjangaon belt, like Fiat-Tata and white goods manufacturers Whirlpool and LG, are believed not to have stepped up outside security in the form of additional guards at plant sites.

Mukesh Malhotra���Weikfield Food Products MD and Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) president���said the industry body has been trying to get in touch with the police but was confident the local cops would be able to cope. The Pimpri Chinchwad area, home to small and medium-sized auto ancillary units, is also concerned about employees who might have to travel to metros.

Apart from hitting India���s credibility as a business destination, the Mumbai attacks will also impact business sentiment and client confidence. Among the sectors to take a hit will be the outsourcing industry.