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It emerges that the Tatas were interested in entering the aviation business, but the demand for bribes caused them to exit very early from their bid to enter the aviation business.
Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata today said he did not enter the airline business as he was not comfortable with the idea of paying a bribe of Rs 15 crore to a minister, as had been suggested by an industrialist.
He regretted that despite being a pioneer in the airline industry, the group faced enormous problems in setting up a domestic airlines in collaboration with Singapore Airlines.
"We approached three Prime Ministers. But an individual thwarted our efforts to form the airlines," Tata said, recalling how he spurned the suggestion by a fellow industrialist.
He, however, did not name the individual.
Amid Tatas' efforts to set up a joint venture with Singapore Airlines, a fellow industrialist had said: "You are stupid people. The Minister was asking for Rs 15 crore. Why didn't you pay the money?"
Narrating the incident, Tata said, "I did not want to go to the bed knowing well that I set up an airlines by paying Rs 15 crore as a bribe."
Ratan Tata's predecessor, JRD Tata, had set up the first commercial airlines of India 'Tata Airlines' in the 1930s and that was later in the 1950s taken over by the Government and turned into Air India.
Responding to questions about how he succeeded without compromising ethics and values after delivering a lecture on 'India in 21st Century: Opportunities and Challenges' here, Tata, 72, said he did not have a methodology in this regard, but went on to narrate the entire history of how Tatas failed to re-enter the aviation business.
After taking over the reins of the group, Ratan Tata had tried at least on three occasions to pursue the aviation business and accordingly moved the government of the day in 1995, 1997 and 2001.
The last time (2001), it was the BJP government when Tatas and Singapore Airlines withdrew as sole bidders their joint bid for Air India, citing political opposition to the sale.
Earlier in 1995 and subsequently in 2000, the consortium had made concerted efforts to take stake in Air India, but the controversies that engulfed disinvestment through a strategic sale in a public sector undertaking and the unions' agitation prevented materialisation of the bids.
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In spite of Police, CBI, CID & Judiciary%u2019s Untiring Efforts still the graph of Crimes are Not Expunging from its Vertex. As we know that Except VIP%u2019s the Common men are alone & have a lot of Problems in Maintaining Family Expenses. We%u2019re really in Need of Peaceful Life in order to Remember & Become More Closer to Our Beloved God therefore we%u2019re Fed Up from Such Kind of Unreliable, Unrest Worst Situation Irrespective of Religions and Castes. Almighty God also Annoyed with us due to Our Irresponsible misbehavior with our Social, Commercial & Political%u2019s Job Profile. All Religious Scholars need to Pensive over such Distraught Situation of Human Society instead of Relaxed & Satisfied, they should have to more Pray to Generous God & Enlighten to Respective Communities & Scrutinize the Loose Ends & Introduce with True God & Prevent their followers to restrain from Corruptions even donations need to check prior to accept, then such kind cases will not be committed by people.
Relgion can reform people with the introduction of "True God" with the Reality of Life, Casualties of Death are reminding us to correct our deeds before the Time come. Due to Majesty Almighty God can not rule over directly Therefore He has made system which called as "Government" & given opportuinty to those who shows their interest to serve His creation as per His wish Really we're not affiliating with him in right manner. Government should work as a representative of God, now God is Annoyed with us and He is not sending benedictions and bounties because there is no honesty in working. Every Panchyat Member, Corporator,MLA,MP & Minsiters should be True God-fearing and remove all genuine problems of constituency with the co-ordination of Public, Local Offices concern Ministries without aquisitive. If they work without money from public then no need to spend a lot of money in Election, people will Select them on the behalf of their Honesty, God will be Pleased with all of us.
Why speak now and today? Whats purpose sir? You are never known to speak abt.politicians corruption which there since the times of the Jamshetji. Better do something abt. faulty Nano so poor people money can be saved. By the way sir! you were lucky. Had it been todays govt. the minister wouldhave asked 1000 cr. Dont beleive me? As A.Raja,Kalmadi,Shiela dixit...and all roads lead to one source .
Great for Tatas. If people refuse to pay bribes corruption will be lessened. Lot of people , like Tata's industrialist friend, are willing to pay bribes to achieve their goal. That is how they promote corruption. It is easier to blame politicians and officials for the corruption, people who give bribes have to share the blame also. Tatas are prospering in other businesses and their conscience is clean. It is difficult to say the same for other industrialists.
Criminals and Corrupt people are also subjected to pay bribes. Bribes have become a way of life in India because of bad governance. The government is also run by Criminals and Corrupt. This is nothing new respectable Ratan Tata has said. The only difference is that he has dared to expose corruption for which he will have pay heavily. Had the "TATAS" submitted and paid bribes, the TATA in India would have been bigger Industrialist than "AMBANI'S".
Mr. Tata has shown us all that it is better to be honest that pay a bribe to succeed. In the end he and his company succeeded, in that they now have Jaguar and Land Rover, TCS and Chorus. If only there were more business men and women like Mr. Tata, India would be a better place. Mr. Tata has shown us all that it is better to be honest than shack with dirty corrupt politicians who fill our country. Mr. Tata has his soul intact. He did not sell out to the devil.