Honda not moving out of Karnataka, says M.B. Patil

Strongly refuting Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s claim that Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Honda Motor was planning to move out of Karnataka, Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil said the statement was “baseless and politically motivated”.

Mr. Patil also cautioned that such “irresponsible” remarks, made by Mr. Kumaraswamy on Sunday, could undermine the State’s industrial growth.

“Honda has been allotted 135 acres of land in phases at Narasapura in Kolar district since 2011. The company has been manufacturing two-wheelers there since 2013 and currently produces 10,000 vehicles a day, providing employment to more than 7,800 people,” the Minister said.

According to Mr. Patil, the company also operates a 35-acre spare-parts warehousing and distribution facility at Adinarayana Hosahalli in Doddaballapura taluk, catering to the entire southern region. Mr. Kumaraswamy should be aware of the company’s strong association with Karnataka and make statements responsibly, he added.

Mr. Patil further said that Honda was keen to venture into electric two-wheeler manufacturing and planned to begin production at its Narasapura campus in the coming days. “There have been no lapses on the part of the State government in its dealings with Honda, nor has the company expressed any dissatisfaction with the State. It is inappropriate for Mr. Kumaraswamy, who himself hails from Karnataka, to make such remarks,” the Minister said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy should instead focus on attracting more industries to Karnataka. “Would he not be undermining the interests of his own State by creating a furore with unfounded claims that companies are moving to Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Odisha?” he asked.