Narayana Murthy quits as BIAL chief

TNN / Oct 21, 2005, 00:39 IST

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Murthy quit chairmanship of Bangalore Airport, anguished over the manner in which he was treated by a former PM.

BANGALORE: The IT Capital's infrastructure woes got worse as JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda's contempt for the IT sector claimed its first victim on Thursday. Infosys chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy resigned from the chairmanship of Bangalore International Airport Ltd, anguished over the manner in which he was treated by the former PM.
This also marks a turning point in private participation in public projects.Murthy's resignation comes four days after Gowda taunted him over Bangalore-centric issues.
Gowda wanted to know why the international airport at Devanahalli was getting delayed in spite of Murthy heading BIAL; the IT czar, having travelled the world over, should have come up with a formula to decongest Bangalore. He also ridiculed Murthy's vision for urban reforms in Karnataka, outlined before CM N Dharam Singh and Gowda on October 15.
The resignation letter, addressed to the CM, has caused ripples in political circles. While Gowda wondered what wrong he had done, Singh was making efforts to make Murthy reconsider his decision. Murthy's brief letter is full of anguish over Gowda's attitude and disappointment over Singh not coming to his rescue.

"I'm disappointed that a former PM did not accord me this basic courtesy. I am pained, more so, that leaders in the government like you did not even clarify my role in the company and the work that has been done. I have spent enormous amount of time and energy in interacting with the government in New Delhi and the government here to make this work.
The records prove themselves," Murthy said in the letter. "Media reports of Oct. 17 refer to your coalition partner, Mr Deve Gowda, speaking to the press about lack of my contribution to the BIAL during the past five years. I wish he had asked me personally before going to the press, or talked to you, or ascertained it from members of the board."
As a damage-control measure, Singh said: "I'll persuade Murthy. He's from Karnataka, his contribution to IT is tremendous. If necessary, I will talk to Gowda. Who said JD(S) is anti-IT? Such things happen, we must forget them in the larger interest." Maharashtra governor S M Krishna, who got Murthy to head BIAL, declined to comment.

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