Narayana Murthy ejects from BIAL

BANGALORE: Infosys chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy has resigned from the post of chairman of the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).

In an open letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh, he expressed strong disapproval of the manner in which former PM and JD(S) leader Deve Gowda had gone to the press with comments about his perceived lack of contribution to BIAL.

"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," the letter stated.

"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 submitted in his defence.

Meanwhile speaking to the media, N Dhram Singh, Chief Minister of Karnataka said that he will try to convince Murthy to take back the resignation. “Narayana Murthy's contribution to the Bangalore International Airport is well known. I will ask him to take back the resignation,” he said.