TAP TO UNMUTE File Photo

New Delhi: With less than 6 months for general elections, Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy has praised Prime Minister Modi for working very hard in reducing corruption at the central level, stating that continuity of the present govt would be a good thing for India.

In an exclusive interview with ET NOW, he also weighed in on the clash between govt and various institutions including RBI, stating that institutions must remain strong and not weaken. When asked if the govt has taken its eyes off development to focus on statues and temples, he said that these are not the issues he would focus on.

"PM Modi & his cabinet have worked very hard in reducing corruption at the central level. I rarely hear a complaint of corruption at the Central Govt level. On Rafale deal, I don't know what the truth is unless there is data."

When asked if execution and implementation were lacking in key reforms such as GST & IBC, he said, "I broadly feel that PM has led a strong economic progress minded govt. We cannot hold PM responsible for execution, its the bureaucracy that has to do it. Its not Mr Modi's responsibility to go to every village and keep it clean. I don't think it is proper on anybody's part to hold Mr Modi responsible for execution. The problem is with the Indian mindset & psyche, we are apathetic and indisciplined. We urgently need a cultural transformation before we can achieve an economic transformation."

He further said, "We must be grateful that there is at least a national leader of Modi's calibre who is interested in improving India. Looking at last 5 years, I feel that having a leader who is focussed on the nation, focussed on discipline, cleanliness, economic progress, is a good thing. Continuity of govt would be a good thing."

Murthy also stressed the need to strengthen institutional autonomy when asked about the recent clashes between the govt and institutions such as RBI, CBI etc. He, however, said that having known people on both sides (govt & RBI), he felt confident that there would to some sort of reconciliation.

"We must do whatever is necessary to ensure that all institutions are strong. We have not paid the same level of attention to institutions, allowed it to become weak. This has happened right from Nehru's time. RBI vs govt priorities has been a bone of contention in many countries, its nothing new. Each is doing what is legitimately their mandate. Having known people on both sides, they will come to some sort of solution."

When asked if he was disappointed that a govt elected on the development plank is focusing more on statues and temples closer to the elections, he said, "These are not the issues that I would focus on. Every one of the 1.3 billion Indians is important for the country. True democracy is one that provides freedom of expression, faith, freedom from want and fear "

