Murthy puts to rest National Anthem, Cauvery controversy

Bangalore, Apr 10 (UNI) Putting to rest the controversy over his statement about playing the National Anthem during President A P J Abdul Kalam's visit to Infosys' Mysore campus on Sunday, company Chief Mentor N R Narayana Murthy today clarified that instrumental version of the Anthem was played so that all could sing along.

''We played the instrumental version of the National Anthem so that all could sing along, and all of us did so. We wished to share the pride of being an Indian in the gracious presence of our President. We are informed that this is as per protocol,'' he said, apologising if his statement had hurt anybody's sentiments.

Mr Murthy had reportedly stated at a press conference after the departure of the President that the musical version of National Anthem was played as it would have inconvenienced foreign trainees at the Infosys Global Education Centre to join others to sing along.

He said that in Infosys everyone always kept the interest of India foremost in their minds and their work spoke for itself. ''We are a proud Indian company, with strong universal ethos of transparency, accountability and honesty. It has always been our endeavour to represent India with the highest standards of respect and enable it to take its rightful place in the world economy,'' he said in a statement here.

Clarifying his remarks on the Cauvery dispute, the IT czar said the entire IT industry in Karnataka was closed on the day (February 12, 2007) the bandh was called to protest the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's verdict.

''All our facilities in Karnataka were also closed for the day.

A large part of the IT industry, including our offices, worked on a subsequent Saturday (February 24, 2007) to compensate for the loss of a working day and to honour our commitments to our customers,'' Mr Murthy said.

When asked why Infosys' Mysore centre had worked despite the whole State supporting the bandh, the company's Non-Executive Chairman had said solution was not in closing down businesses, schools and offices, but in putting up its case forcefully in New Delhi and Supreme Court. ''If we continue this, not only Karnataka loses Cauvery water, but also revenue for the day,'' he had said.

Mr Murthy reiterated the need to adopt a solution-based, peaceful approach to resolve the issue. ''India is at the centre-stage of the world economy and we have a huge opportunity before us to generate employment in the State, improve the standard of living and provide our children with a better future. At all times, we must remember to act in a manner befitting citizens of a responsible democracy,'' he added.

UNI