BANGALORTE: IT/BT and hotel industry leaders vented their ire at the carnage in Mumbai at a high-level meeting with Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa here on Saturday.
The disillusioned business community demanded automatic weapons and military cover, besides private security, to safeguard its interests.
Leading the discussion with ill-concealed disgust were two of India Inc’s leading voices — Biocon CEO Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai.
They were categorical in their demands. Mazumdar-Shaw said, “There was huge delay in rushing NSG commandos to Mumbai. The ill-equipped police force is just not enough to meet the challenge posed by terrorists. It is too much to expect of private security systems of business houses to tackle terror.
“AK-47s, grenades and other modern weaponry and equipment are needed. Military patrolling should also be arranged.”
The Biocon CEO suggested creating a well-equipped crack anti-terrorist squad in Karnataka. The possibilities of getting them trained by Israeli secret service Mossad should be explored, she said.
Pai was even more vocal. Tone loaded with sarcasm and despair, he said, “Amend the law to enable us to get machine guns to defend ourselves. There is no other option. I am sorry to say this but we are defenceless. A police force with obsolete arms and poor training cannot instill confidence in people.”
The chief minister was left with little choice but to promise foolproof security to investors. He said no stone would be left unturned to build industry confidence.
