Narayana Murthy not game for Presidential poll

Bangalore, Mar 21 (UNI) IT bellwether Infosys Technologies Limited Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy today scotched rumours that he was one of the aspirants for the Presidential election due in June next.

Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Bangalore facility of the Process Research and Development Lab of AstraZeneca, a leading pharmaceutical company, he said he was not interested in contesting the election.

Reacting sharply to media reports suggesting that he was one of the top contenders, Mr Murthy urged the newspersons to get it clarified from those responsible for it.

On the stiff opposition and violence against land acquisition for the proposed Special Economic Zone at Nandigram in West Bengal, the IT Czar opined that it would have repercussions on the industry elsewhere in the country. He preferred the Government's earlier policy of acquiring land directly from the land owner, including farmers, for setting up industries. The present policy would promote real estate activities at the cost of industry expansion and job creation.

About the Union Budget proposals to impose fresh taxes on IT, he said that though he was not against it, he favoured tax exemption for a certain portion of the revenue, invested in research and development activities. ''The Government must consider tax exemption for the first Rs 20 crore of revenue of any industry which would go into R and D activities,'' he suggested.

Reiterating his demand to evolve a vibrant and world class human resource policy in the country to find solutions to the dearth of employable talent pool, Mr Murthy said he had discussed it with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and exuded confidence that such a national policy would be put in place.

Earlier speaking at the inaugural function of AstraZeneca facility, he exhorted the Indian professionals to generate more and more high disposable revenue which would make the country look good.

He also urged the State Government to encourage more global firms to invest in the State by creating a conducive environment.

UNI