Narayana Murthy resigns from BIAL

NDTV: "N R Narayan Murthy, Chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys Technologies Limited, has responded to political criticism by saying he will no longer head the consortium in charge of Bangalore's international airport.

Murthy stepped down today as Chairman of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).

In a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh, Murthy wrote that he was "disappointed" by criticism from former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda, who is a member of the state's ruling coalition. In his letter Narayan Murthy says of Deve Gowda, "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. I am pained more so, that leaders in the government, like you, did not clairfy my role and the work that has been done.

"I have spent enormous time and energy in interacting with the government in New Delhi and the government her to make this work."

The CEO of the airport project is shocked by the development.

"I am surprised and shocked. It was a great privilege working with him. I will try to persuade him to withdraw his resignation," said Albert Brunner, CEO, Bangalore International Airport.

Meanwhile, Congress Chief Minister Dharam Singh says he hopes to sort out the issue.

"I am going to contact him, I will talk to him. What is the reason he submitted the resignation, because his contribution is there for the IT/BT and I will talk to him and set the matter," said Dharam Singh, Karnataka Chief Minister.

But the relationship between the JD(S) and Bangalore's IT industry has always been uneasy at best – and this latest deterioration is perhaps the lowest level yet. Media commentators say the disagreement between the technocrat and the politician reflects a significant divide within Karnataka.

There have long been differences of opinion about whether the state should focus on urban infrastructure to foster its highly successful IT industry, or whether that focus takes away from the pressing needs of rural Karnataka.

Murthy has been a vocal critic of Bangalore's congestion, and has demanded a political commitment to improving infrastructure.

Last month, several IT leaders threatened to boycott the state's "Bangalore IT in 2005" conference if the government did not decongest the city's roads. The Chief Minister promised to build new roads.

On his part, Deve Gowda has charged that the IT industry is elitist and out of touch with rural reality.

Recently, he asked the Chief Minister to rethink an allotment of 845 acres to Infosys, to build a new software development centre and township.

Murthy's resignation comes as the latest development in a prolonged dispute, one that could have significant implications for the future of IT in Bangalore."