Correction in Bangalore

Correction in Bangalore: Gowda son reaches out to IT industry
Indian Express

Infosys chief responds to Kumaraswamy overtures: CM’s pro-active, interested in creating IT jobs, it’s good for industry, Bangalore


The frost that had set in last winter between Karnataka’s political first family and Infosys looks set to thaw, with Deve Gowda’s son and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy trying hard to build bridges with the IT industry. And this time, Gowda senior is keeping quiet, going along with his son’s decision.

The Kumaraswamy government has given an “in-principle” approval to the move to provide Infosys 845 acres of agricultural land outside Bangalore for a development centre and residential facility. This was the very project that set off October’s bitter acrimony and led to Infosys chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy’s resignation as chairman of the Bangalore International Airport project and the Infosys announcement that it was not looking at any further expansion in Bangalore.

On his part, Murthy has reciprocated graciously, complimenting the new chief minister after the government’s in-principle approval. “He is proactive and interested in creating more jobs in IT,” Murthy has said.

Last week at a private function, applauding the CM’s energetic effort to repair Bangalore’s damaged infrastructure and restore its IT-capital image, Murthy had said: “I am impressed with the new chief minister... He is making the right moves. I have no doubt that he and his team will make Bangalore a better city and Karnataka a better state.”

The remarks came after Kumaraswamy set in motion a slew of road development programmes in Bangalore, drew tight deadlines for the completion of work and promised not to neglect Bangalore or the IT sector.

Soon after taking over as Chief Minister on February 3, Kumaraswamy promised he would do his best to restore investor confidence in Bangalore.