The Tata Tea/ULFA Story

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

1.Analyse the reasons why Tata Tea had to strike a deal with the ULFA and critically comment whether the Assam government was primarily responsible for the controversy or not.

2.Though Tata Tea managed to avoid paying cash to the ULFA, it could not avoid charges of encouraging terrorism. What were the options available to the Assam based tea estates facing extortion threats?

3.Comment on the role of the state and central governments in the Tata Tea-ULFA controversy. Do you agree that political power games have played a significant role in the crisis faced by the tea industry in Assam?

ADDITIONAL READINGS & REFERENCES:

1.Paul Mahuya, Industry refuses to buy Tata Tea links with Ulfa, Business Standard, September 9, 1997.
2.Gujral did not meet Ratan Tata; Dogra remanded in 14 days judicial custody, www.rediff.com, September 16, 1997.
3.Iype George, Tata Tea controversy: We are not going to leave anybody scot-free says Mahanta, www.rediff.com, September 16, 1997.
4.Tata lobbies govt as Ulfa funding issue snowballs. Business Standard, September 16, 1997.
5.Assam to tone down drive against tea industry. Business Standard, September 17, 1997.
6.Culprit or victim? Business Standard, September 22, 1997.
7.Assam govt alleges Tata Tea had tacit deal with ULFA, Bodo ultras, www.rediff.com, September 23, 1997.
8.Tata Tea executive Gogoi arrested for links to ULFA, www.rediff.com, September 24, 1997.
9.Nandy Pritish, The Lost Children of India, www.rediff.com, September 24, 1997.
10.Goswami Sabita, The pay channel, www.rediff.com, September 27, 1997.
11.Tata Tea refutes allegations of funding terrorists, www.rediff.com, September 1997.
12.ULFA leader Pranati Deka brought to Guwahati, www.rediff.com, September 1997.
13.Tata Tea officials probed on alleged nexus with ULFA, www.rediff.com, September 1997.
14.Pal Nabendu, India's NorthEastern Region: Towards a more humane approach, Bharat Rakshak Monitor – Volume 3(2), September 2000.
15.Assam tea industry in a tizzy over brewing storm, Business Standard, October 1, 1997.
16.Iype George, Govt. orders inquiry into Tata Tapes controversy, www.rediff.com, October 6, 1997.
17.Behind the Tata Tapes: To hell with the system, every man for himself, www.expressindia.com, October 6, 1997.
18.Joshi Rakesh, Settling old scores, Business India, October 6, 1997.
19.Tata Tea now linked to Bodo militants, www.rediff.com, October 8, 1997.
20.Bombay HC extends anticipatory bail of Tata Tea directors Krishna Kumar, Kidwai, www.rediff.com, October 8, 1997.
21.CBI begins query into phone tapping; Tata Tea director Kidwai interrogated, www.rediff.com, October 9, 1997.
22.Tata Tea says its offer to help Ulfa had Centre's writ, Business Standard, October 14, 1997.
23.Goswami Omkar, Dutta Sudipt, Bose Madhumita, Mittra Kaveri, Ganguli Bodhisatva, Karmali Naazneen & Augustine Babudas, Planter, police, Ulfa, spy, Business India, October 20, 1997.
24.'Tata Tea are difficult customers', www.rediff.com, October 1997.
25.Thakore Dilip, Tata Tea managers did little wrong, www.rediff.com, November 10, 1997.
26.Rahman Maseeh, Tempest in a tea cup, Time Magazine, November 17, 1997.
27.Tata Tea earns record H1 profits, www.rediff.com, November 19, 1997.
28.Sonwalkar Prasun, Tatas, Assam call truce, Business Standard, December 20, 1997.
29.A crushing burden Business Standard, January 28, 1998.
30.Tata Tea: Late-Breaking News, www.honestea.com, 1999.
31.Kashyap Gupta Samudra, Tea-estate manager, doctors held for rendering aid to senior ULFA, Indian Express, July 21, 2000.
32.Sharma Naba, Militant killings on the rise in Assam tea estates, Business Line, November 23, 2000.
33.www.tata.com
34.www.indiainfoline.com

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