The Tata Group will consider fresh investments in West Bengal once it is “satisfied” that there is “no hostility” towards the conglomerate.

“We have a fondness for the people in Bengal. There is a need for us to satisfy that there is no hostility towards us. And, when we feel that way, we will undoubtedly, like anywhere else, invest in the State,” the Group Chairman, Mr Ratan Tata, said on Tuesday.

“At the present moment, we do not have any (plans of investing in the State). But there is nothing negative,” he added.

Mr Tata was responding to shareholders queries during the annual general meeting of Tata Global Beverages Ltd (formerly known as Tata Tea Ltd).

Referring to the now-relocated Nano project of Tata Motors, he said that the company had no “ulterior motives” behind the decision apart from stepping up its exposure in a region which was largely ignored by the investors. “Our feeling for West Bengal caused us to look at setting up of the Nano project and increase our investment in the State,” Mr Tata said.

As a mark of its ‘affection’ for the state, the Group has invested close to Rs 300 crore in setting up a cancer research hospital in Kolkata, he said.