24x7

In an interview with NDTV 24x7 to be telecast on Saturday at 10 pm, Ratan Tata says there was no question of pulling out of the Singur, (West Bengal) project, despite the growing political controversy.

Tata Motors' project is mired in controversy over acquisition of agricultural land and alleged forcible eviction of farmers. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee is sitting on a hunger strike that has entered its 24th day.

Tata, NDTV's Indian of the year, said the proposed Tata Motors project had clearly got caught up in "a political quagmire."

However, without naming anybody, Tata told the channel, "Let me just say, this is not just political. I happen to know that some of our competitors are also fuelling some of this fire and would be very happy if the project got delayed."

When asked if the would consider moving the project to another state, Tata said the Tata Group would not surrender to political pressure. "No, if I believed that we are doing something wrong, then I would be the first one to pull out. If I believe, that this is being manipulated and turned around to meet some specious cause, then I think, what I would do is to dig my heels in…I'm the sort of person who if you put a gun to my head, you can pull the trigger or take the gun away, but I won't move my head."