THE SON has fixed what the father broke. On Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's request, IT czar N.R. Narayana Murthy has agreed to shape the state's vision in the information-technology sector.
Forgetting his less-than-friendly relationship with JD(S) leaders — among them H.D. Deve Gowda, the CM's father — Murthy will now don the role of chairman of Karnataka's IT vision group.
According to a statement released by the CM's office, Murthy agreed to accept Kumaraswamy's invitation in a letter sent to him. "I'm grateful to you for inviting me to chair the state IT vision group," says Murthy's letter. "It'll be a privilege and pleasure to do so."
In October 2005, Deve Gowda's outbursts against Murthy had prompted the latter's resignation from the position of non-executive chairman of the Bangalore International Airport Ltd. Gowda had first questioned Murthy's contribution to the project and later accused Infosys Technologies of grabbing land in the outskirts of Bangalore.
Kumaraswamy had extended the offer during an address at Infosys's silver-jubilee celebrations in Mysore on July 31: "The state government would like to benefit from Murthy's vision, his enormous experience and desire to work for Karnataka after his retirement.
{{/usCountry}}Kumaraswamy had extended the offer during an address at Infosys's silver-jubilee celebrations in Mysore on July 31: "The state government would like to benefit from Murthy's vision, his enormous experience and desire to work for Karnataka after his retirement.
{{/usCountry}}Anup Poojary, the state's secretary for IT & BT, said the vision group would meet soon to draw up a programme for the promotion of knowledge-based industries and to project the state as the best destination for potential investors in the run-up to the ‘Bangalore IT.in’ event next month.