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Suzuki denies requesting GM to mediate in Maruti row

Suzuki Motor Company on Tuesday said that it had not requested help from General Motors Corporation to resolve its dispute with the government of India over the appointment of the Maruti Udyog Limited managing director, a news agency reported.

General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Smith, on a visit to India, was quoted as having said his company firm was prepared to help resolve the feud.

A Suzuki spokesman said, "The report was incorrect. (Suzuki Chairman) Osamu Suzuki did not ask GM to help resolve the issue as we have already filed a petition (in the International Court of Arbitration)."

Suzuki Motor filed a petition in the International Court of Arbitration in September challenging the government's appointment of R S S L N Bhaskarudu as the new managing director of Maruti Udyog Ltd.

The spokesman said the industry ministry had not accepted Suzuki Motor's repeated calls for discussions and had informed the firm that it would nominate Bhaskarudu as the new managing director just 30 minutes before a board meeting on August 27. This was despite the fact that Suzuki had previously stated that Bhaskarudu was not up to the post, he said.

In September, a Delhi court ruled that Suzuki's objection to Bhaskarudu's appointment would be subject to a verdict by the London-based International Court of Arbitration, where the Japanese firm has filed a separate application.

The schedule of the arbitration hearings was not yet available, the Suzuki spokesman said.