Tata's 'remarks' on Mukesh Ambani home sparks controversy

London/Mumbai, May 22 (PTI) Ratan Tata's purported
remarks expressing surprise at fellow industrialist Mukesh
Ambani living in a billion-dollar mansion in Mumbai has
sparked off a controversy on Sunday.
The Tata group Chairman was quoted by London's Times
newspaper as having said, "It makes me wonder why someone
would do that. That's what revolutions are made of. The person
who lives in there should be concerned about what he sees
around him and [asking] can he make a difference.
"If he is not, then it's sad because this country
needs people to allocate some of their enormous wealth to
finding ways of mitigating the hardship that people have."
Tata, who bought the British steel maker Corus and car
manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said, the widening gap
between the rich and the poor in India worried him.
"We are doing so little about the disparity. We are
allowing it to be there and wishing it away."
However, Tatas disputed the reported attribution to
its chairman, saying that the comments were taken out of
context and factually incorrect.
"We would also like to clarify on stories in Indian
media regarding Mr Ambani's home. The report is out of context
and factually incorrect. Mr Tata's comments on wealth are in
the larger context of the growing disparity in the society.
The comments seem to have been deliberately sensationalised.
"There have been words, individuals and statements
that have not been mentioned by Mr Tata during the course of
the interaction which are being attributed to him.
"We have already registered our protest with the
concerned publication and will continue to pursue measures
against the incorrect impressions being sought to be created,"
a spokesperson of Tata Sons said in a statement.