'NRN becoming next President will be fantastic'

Mysore, Apr 8: President A P J Abdul Kalam said it will be 'fantastic' if Mr N R Narayana Murthy, Infosys Chief Mentor and Non-Executive Chairman, would be made the next President of India.

While answering questions from the trainees at the Infosys' Global Education Centre, Asia's biggest business training centre here, Mr Kalam replied in one word, 'fantastic,' when a trainee asked what the president had to say about Mr Murthy being made the next President of India as he was a special person.

President's visit to the campus, in which nearly 2500 engineers are undergoing training, brought an electrifying experience to the trainees who screamed and clapped at the sight of Mr Kalam walking up to the dais of the amphitheater, surrounded by lush green carpet of grass and groups of trees behind the imposing state-of-the art training blocks, to address them. Infosys in on job to extend the centre, which has all modern facilities to house the trainees from all over India and from many foreign countries, to house 10,000 trainees at a time.

Later speaking to reporters Mr Murthy however advocated for Mr Kalam be given another term as the President of India. "Mr Kalam has been very kind to me, my wife and our investors. I am very grateful to him. If you ask me whether I am open to accept the post of the President, I will say it is a hypothetical question. What will happen in future no body can say. My sentiment is that he would continue as the President for another term," he said.

Mr Murthy said President Kalam's visit to the Infosys training centre was very significant as he could influence the youth, who are the future of the country. The best of our youth get an electrifying experience when they meet Mr Kalam. He can blend with the youth like no body does Mr Murthy said.

"This centre has seen many Heads of State visiting it but nothing was more special than the President of your country visiting it," he added.

UNI