Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy Open to Advisory Role in Government

Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's as a "charismatic and strong leader" who wants to transform India and said today that he is open to taking up an advisory role in the government. (Watch the complete interview)

But Mr Murthy, who stepped down today as non-executive chairman of the company he set up in 1981, said he will not consider an executive role. "At 69, I don't think I should have any such responsibility... There could be lot of advisory roles. Whatever little ideas I have, I will be happy to share it," he said.

Those aged 60 or 65 years should not be hankering for executive roles in a country which has the largest number of under-35 population in the world, Mr Murthy said. Infosys has this year brought in 47-year-old Vishal Sikka as CEO. (Also read: Infosys Q2 Profit Rises to Rs. 3,096 Crore, Shares Jump on Bonus Issue)

Mr Murthy backed the Prime Minister's initiatives to revive the economy and said he was happy that Mr Modi was focused on job creation, which, he said, was the only way to solve poverty in India.

"I believe we all must be enthusiastic and give him support in his endeavour to make India reach those targets," Mr Murthy said.

He, however, said the government must take steps to make it easier to invest in India. We have to reduce bureaucracy, we have to improve the investment climate and work on infrastructure development to make foreigners feel welcome in India, Mr Murthy said.

Asked about PM Modi's ambitious "Make in India" push, Mr Murthy said India does not need big campaigns for progress, but the government must focus on implementation.

He suggested that the government abolish all tax exemptions (barring those for small start-ups) and cut down on massive subsidies that is weighing on its finances.

"There is no need for the government to be on investment overdrive... We have to rid ourselves of issues like retrospective tax and need to maintain credibility for investments to flow," he added.

Mr Murthy also said he started as a leftist when he was a student, but transformed into a "determined, compassionate capitalist" later.