Hamara Bajaj Seeks Care For MSMEs Amid Covid Re-Lockdown

While talking to the media, the 54-year-old Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto, never minces words nor ducks issues. He, like his father Rahul Bajaj, calls a spade a spade. He has been consistently opposing lockdown from Day One. So when Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray imposed second lockdown on April 14, Bajaj was his usual self, critical.   “Why everybody keeps looking at BSE and NSE but not MSMEs,” he asks, explaining that a company like Bajaj Auto can take care of its people but the small businesses will be hit even more harder this time he told news channel India Today. Bajaj Auto is a cash-rich company with over Rs 20,000 crore in reserves. Even if the company makes nothing, sells nothing then the standstill cost – salaries & wages — for the company works out to Rs 750 crore per annum. With Rs 20,000 crore reserves and non-operating income, he can take care of his company’s employees even if the company, hypothetically, is shut for the next 30 years. How many CEOs in the country can make that kind of bold statement? Well, it takes a Hamara Bajaj to talk for Hum Sab.