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Confidence, tolerance must for economic progress: Narayana Murthy
Bengaluru, Oct 31 Expressing concern over
rising instances of intolerance, Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy
on Saturday urged the government to restore people's confidence and
ensure tolerance for economic progress.
"The first priority of
this government or any government at the centre or states should be to
bring back confidence, energy, trust and enthusiasm in every citizen,"
Murthy said in a discussion on a news channel.
Observing that
there was a considerable fear among minorities and migrants over their
safety and security in light of some recent incidents, Murthy said
unless there was no strife, no distress and no fear, it would be
difficult to address problems of poverty, inequality and disparity.
"As
I am not a politician and not interested in politics, I don't want to
comment on some things happening in the country. Everyone should be made
to feel that this is my country and I will work for its betterment," he
asserted.
Citing data spanning over 300 years, Murthy said no
country ever made economic progress unless the majority community
respected the minority community and stopped oppressing it.
Recalling
the ill-treatment of south Indians in then Bombay in 1967 at the hands
of Shiv Sena, Murthy said when one region was in strife with other
region in the country, there could be no peace or progress in such a
situation.
"An environment of positivism was important to bring back growth and eliminate poverty," he added.
Murthy's
remarks comes a day after the global rating agency Moody's research arm
advised the NDA government to prevent fringe elements in the ruling
Bharatiya Janata Party from making provocative statements, which were
eroding its credibility in the country and overseas.