Tata slams controls; ‘get to work’ says Murthy at TiE summit

Clearly stung by the Singur fiasco, Tata group chairman Ratan Tata lashed out at the government's ''over-control'' of the economy and ''vested interests working against the unfolding of the true potential of India'', many of them in the private sector.

Tata, along with Infosys Technologies chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy, was participating in a debate on the changing face of Indian entrepreneurship organised by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) in Mumbai on Monday.

Tata was preented the lifetime achievement award by TiE.

Tata also said that land policies were the least reformed part of the Indian economy; and that India has a long way to go for equitable enforcement of the rule of law. He added that land allocation for industry has become ''a very hot issue'' and is likely to hit infrastructure projects in India.

"There are strong vested interests working against unfolding of the true potential of India, and they are, unfortunately, in the private sector. And I am yet to see enforcement of laws and rules are in an equitable manner," he said.

Tata added, "It may sound superficial, but more often than not, the conflicts pertaining to land are provoked by individuals who are not involved in the deal, and who are inclined to exploit the situation." This was obviously read as a reference to union railway minister Mamata Banerjee, who was aggressive in the agitation against the Tatas' Nano car project at Singur.