Narayana Murthy resigns from Chairmanship of BIAL Thursday, October 20 2005 16:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -
Bangalore:
N R Narayana Murthy, Chairman and Chief Mentor, Infosys Technologies Ltd, has resigned from the Chairmanship of the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) following a remark made by former Prime Minister and Janata Dal Supremo H D Deve Gowda.
Gowda had said that the Infosys boss had made no contribution in the last five years to bring the Bangalore International Airport Limited to fruition.
Taking offence to the remark, Narayana Murthy quit as BIAL Chairman on Thursday (Oct 20, 2005).
Following is the letter he sent to Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh, thereby informing Dharam Singh about his decision to quit:
October 20, 2005
Mr Dharam Singh,
Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka,
Vidhana Soudha
Bangalore - 560 001.
Dear Mr Dharam Singh,
The media reports of October 17, 2005 refer to your coalition partner, Mr Deve Gowda, speaking to the press about lack of my contribution to the Bangalore International Airport Limited during the last 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. I am disappointed that a former Prime Minister 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.
Therefore, I am resigning the chairmanship of BIAL effective Thursday, October 20, 2005.
I thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve the people of the state.
Best regards.
Yours sincerely,
N R Narayana Murthy
Chairman and Chief Mentor
Infosys Technologies Ltd
