A miffed N R Narayana Murthy, Chairman and Chief Mentor, Infosys Technologies Ltd [Get Quote], has resigned from the chairmanship of the Bangalore International Airport Limited following a remark made by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

Deve Gowda had said that the Infosys boss had made no contribution in the last five years to bring the Bangalore International Airport Limited to fruition.

• Murthy to be urged to stay back

Taking offence to the remark, Narayana Murthy quit as BIAL chairman on Thursday.

Following is the letter he sent to the Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh informing him about his decision:

October 20, 2005

Mr Dharam Singh,
Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka,
Vidhana Soudha
Bangalore - 560 001

Dear Mr Dharam Singh,

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.

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.

Therefore, I am resigning the chairmanship of BIAL effective Thursday, October 20, 2005.

I thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve the people of the state.

Best regards.

Yours sincerely,

N R Narayana Murthy
Chairman and Chief Mentor
Infosys Technologies Ltd

Copy to:
1. Mr. Albert Brunner, CEO, BIAL
2. Members of the Board, BIAL
3. Media