Jamshedpur, Apr 22 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday addressed the Tata Centenary celebrations and said Tata Steel is a unique temple of modern India.

Dr. Singh said Tata Steel is a symbol of a new phase in the growth of Indian industry. The impressive turn around of this company has made it globally competitive. He said it gives me immense happiness to learn that the company has surpassed global standards on many counts including global standards on environmental considerations.

“I stand here to pay tribute to the memory of the great founder, the great visionary, Jamshedji Tata, and thousands of employees and workers who have, over the past century, built this unique temple of modern India,” said Dr. Singh.

He also complimented Ratan Tata, his colleagues J. J. Irani and Muthuraman, for their leadership and for their vision.

The Prime Minister said I take great pride in the fact that our government, in 1992, chose JRD Tata as the first Indian business leader to be awarded Bharat Ratna. I recall that Tata Steel was a pioneer in introducing eight hour working days, as early as in 1912, and the concept of ‘leave with pay’ and employees provident fund.

Earlier in the day, he laid the foundation stone for the Rs 9000 crore modernisation and expansion project of the Bokaro Steel Plant here.

The Prime Minister is visiting Jharkhand for the second time after assuming office. Earlier, he had visited the state to campaign for the 2005 state Assembly polls. (ANI)