Idea issue: Ratan Tata non-committal

Asked to comment on the issue, which had triggered a confrontation between the two groups, Tata declined to take any questions.

On March 1, the Tatas had served a "termination" notice to their partner for "breach of shareholders agreement," and said they would proceed to purchase the shareholding of the AV Birla group in the joint venture.

However, the Birlas informed the government that there was "no iota of substance" in the termination notice served on them and dubbed it as "an attempt to divert the attention" from real issues.