Jat protests: Maruti suspends production in Haryana; others may follow suit
The firm said supplies of certain components have been disrupted owing to the agitation in Rohtak and nearby areas
New Delhi: India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Saturday said that it has suspended production at its plants in Haryana due to the ongoing protests by the Jat community for quota in government jobs.
Owing to the agitation in Rohtak and nearby areas, “supplies of certain components have been disrupted", Maruti said.
“The company is making efforts to arrange the components from other sources. Once the supply of components is restored, normal operations will resume," the firm said in a statement.
To be sure, Maruti Suzuki has two plants, one each in Gurgaon and Manesar, which is surrounded by pockets with massive Jat population. The combined output from the two plants is currently about 5,000 vehicles per day.
Other companies who have manufacturing units in the region are India’s top two-wheeler makers Hero MotoCorp Ltd and Honda Motorcycles & Scooters India; and Suzuki Motorcycle India Ltd. There are a number of auto parts suppliers who also have factories in this region.
Mint could not ascertain the impact on these companies immediately. But their production too is expected to get impacted.
Earlier in the day, authorities imposed a curfew and issued shoot-on-sight orders in Haryana after spreading caste protests left at least one person dead.
Television images showed mobs wielding sticks rampaging through the streets in the northern state, setting fire to a local government minister’s house and railway stations, damaging train tracks and blocking two key highways, AFP reported.
With protests spreading across the state, more than 5,000 army and paramilitary troopers patrolled the streets to impose a round-the-clock curfew in eight districts.
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