Just in time?

At a time when Maruti is busy salvaging its image and brand name against the backdrop of unprecedented labour unrest, the Emperor of Japan has conferred on its chairman, R C Bhargava “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver”. The Order, which will be awarded on November 7 at a ceremony in Tokyo, is to honour his contribution towards promoting economic relations between India and Japan. Although Mr Bhargava deserves credit for building Maruti into one of Suzuki’s major top-line contributors, the timing couldn’t be more inopportune.