Infosys chief mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy at a seminar in Madras on Saturday:
“Most of our politicians do not have the details of the Indo-US nuclear deal. However, they are taking a stand.
“When I ask them if you have read the 123 agreement, please tell me what areas which you see are bad, very few of them were in a position to give facts. However, they have already taken a position. Please avoid taking decisions based on ego, based on perceptions. Go for an analysis based on data and facts. In the end, everybody is happy.
“Quite often, I find that politicians when they are in a government they take a certain stand and when they are in the opposition, they take a totally different stand. When you ask them, what the reason is, what circumstance has changed, they have no answer. Those of you who become politicians, I request you to have integrity of thought.”
as reported by Press Trust of India
I would request Mr.Narayana Murthy to see Rajya Sabha TV, and Lok Sabha TV :)
I was flipping channels, when I came across the debate on nuclear bill in Rajya Sabha(It was around 10 in the night) when Mr.Arun Shourie was talking about the issue. It was a pleasure to listen to ihm, and the amount of research which he has done on the subject of nuclear power, hydro electric power, budgetary allocations(even of Govt of Nepal)
It was wonderful to listen to the discussion.
I normally donot see these channels, but this discussion really didnt let me move from my place for more than an hour.
Actually, I was a supporter of the Nuclear deal, but after listening to Mr.Shourie’s arguments, I have a doubt about the deal itself.
The sage of Electronics City is back at doing what he is best at….carping and complaining. NRN has hardly ever been original, his comments on politics and politicians have been cliches that are repeated ad nauseum in any upper class drawing room.
But back to his point, there is nothing farther away from thr truth as his generalisation about the Nuclear Deal. I wanted to cite an example of a debate on Quality of Mineral Water Bottles supplied in Railway Stations that came up for debate a while ago in Parliament. I was surprised at the very high levels of knowledge and insight displayed by the members on such a mundane topic. I am sure on more critical issues, the preparation and knowledge is even higher. At the same time, it would be downright silly to expect ALL the MPs to have read the deal. There is always a core group in any political grouping that does the background work on specific issues.
Despite our persistent stereotyping, it is a fact that legislatures, particularly at the state level have a significant proportion of smart, intelligent & successful people who graduate to politics. There have been numerous doctors, lawyers, farm sector leaders, trade union leaders who have won elections (They may not have the normal definitions of Smart – US Degrees, Corporate style clothing, but nevertheless have high levels of perception and intelligence). That they choose money over service once in power is another matter.
I agree with NRN. Barring a few, most politicians simply nod their heads in agreement to whatever their leaders say without reading or understanding what is in the 123 agreement.
A bipartisan group of highly distinguished people have appealed to these leaders to accept the agreement and sure no agreement will be 100 % perfect.
Our politicians should be more pragmatic without being too much dogmatic.
I feel nuclear agreement is in Country’s best interest.
NRN…Please stop criticizing politicians. Because you are also like one of them – Hypocrite, Non-Original.