Amid fears among Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employees that India's largest software outsourcer may close down its unit in Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government on Sunday said it will not let TCS go out of the state capital.
"We will not let it (TCS) go from the state capital. We will look into it," state's Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal told PTI in Lucknow.
TCS employees have also approached Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure that the company did not leave Lucknow.
Agarwal's assurance came after UP ministers Swami Prasad Maurya and Mohsin Raza told the employees last week that their interests would be protected.
Maurya, who is the Minister for Labour and Employment in UP, had said necessary negotiations would be held to protect the interest of its employees, numbering around 2,000.
Raza too had said if needed, he would speak to the TCS management and the employees to find a way out.
While the TCS staff panicked, a company spokesperson described certain media reports as "rumours."
"There have been rumours and reports being circulated in the media about the company's operations in Lucknow. TCS would like to clarify that it is only consolidating its UP operations in Noida and there will be no job loss as a consequence," a TCS spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.
"TCS is working to ensure that employees get the opportunities in Noida and other centres across India," the statement said.
It came in the wake of media reports that TCS staffers claimed they were informed by their team leaders and senior officials that the company is wrapping up the work at the Lucknow unit.
TCS added 11,202 (gross) employees during the quarter under review, taking its total head count to over 3.85 lakh.