Bangalore:
The latest attack on the UPA's handling of the corruption has come from Infosys founder N Narayana Murthy. Mr Murthy, otherwise an admirer of this government, said that given the stature of the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi, he finds their handling of the Lokpal Bill "sad."
Mr Murthy said the government's opposition to let the new law against corruption apply to the Prime Minister is inappropriate, considering Dr Manmohan Singh's reputation as one of India's most honest leaders.
Mr Murthy spoke exclusively to NDTV's Sreenivasan Jain. This is an excerpt from his interview.
NDTV: You're saying that it is almost leading to a negative... or is damaging India's reputation abroad...this kind of constant corruption?
Narayana Murthy: Let me put it this way, the goodwill for India that exists a couple of years ago, has gotten diminished now. There is no doubt. It is absolutely clear.
NDTV: That the goodwill has come down globally?
Narayana Murthy: There is no doubt.
NDTV: Because of all this corruption...
Narayana Murthy: Absolutely. Because I meet on an average about 30-40 new people every month and and out of that I would say at least 20-30% t have spoken to me on that, in other words about 10-12 people every month.
NDTV: That's a large number and those are strong words coming from you, because you are such a great ambassador of India. But I want to ask you..
Narayana Murthy: No, I am not criticising the country.
NDTV: No, I understand what you are saying, you are saying this is a perception...
Narayana Murthy: These are the facts that I have received from outside people. These are not my words or my perceptions.
NDTV: OK let me ask you, the handling of the Lokpal issue - I mean initially it seemed quite promising, the government was willing to sit and discuss the entire bill with Civil Society members, you amongst other have been pushing for this, but now suddenly you (the government) seems to have a certain amount of reluctance when it comes to key issues like having the PM in (covered by) the Lokpal.
Narayana Murthy: Well you know it is an irony because today we have one of the most honest people in the country as our PM. I think the president of UPA.. I know her extremely well... is an extraordinary individual. In such a circumstance, for the UPA to kind of put themselves in such a situation is sad. I personally feel that a party led by somebody of the stature of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, or a coalition led by somebody extraordinary like Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh and Mr Pranab Mukherjee who is another fantastic minister, I personally feel they could have done a much better job in dealing with the demands of the Civil Society. After all what they are asking for is something good for the country. All that they are saying is that no one should be above the law.