THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Muthoot Finance chairman M. G. George has said he is contemplating closing down all his branches in Kerala as there is a deliberate effort from trade unions to sabotage the enterprise.
He also accused the police of not providing security to his staff and customers.
Initially, he was not keen to listen to the reporters saying he called the press meet to convey his 'message' on the ongoing protests.
When the reporters insisted, he replied that some reporters have leanings towards CPM.
He said when its managing director George Alexander sat on the road as protesters blocked the way, the police remained mute and when scores of women staff were willing to work, they remained ineffective.
The chairman vehemently refuted the allegation that the management had never bothered to relent whenever the government called conciliatory talks.
"The LDF government has been least bothered to give us protection," he said.
"We are ready to close down all our branches as the government is keen to shoo us away. I am not against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is, in fact, my friend. It is the CITU that plays spoilsport."
Ever since the CITU called the strike, he said, the company management had immediately got in touch with labour minister T. P. Ramakrishnan.
He maintained that even if the Prime Minister seeks to launch a trade union, he will not permit.
"I will not allow even Ramesh Chennithala to open trade union activities in my establishment. If the Muthoot Finance group has to be closed down, only time will reveal that Kerala is not fertile to do business and the management does not have any responsibility in its closure."
