In the latest edition of RSS-affiliated Panchajanya, ithas been alleged that Bengaluru-based IT company Infosys has links with“Naxals, Leftists and tukde tukde gang” and is deliberately trying todestabilize the Indian economy. It further stated that the company also had links with other “Anti-National” forces.
The weekly journal has raised the allegation in thesection “Saakh Aur Aaghaat (Reputation or Harm)”
Earlier, the vilification has targeted individuals,activists, some sections on campuses and some in the political opposition.Infosys is a major software company and is one of the key blue-chip home-grownpioneers in the economy. The latest edition of the journal has alleged thatthere are glitches in the new Income Tax e-filing portal developed by Infosys.
Infosys got the contract in 2019 and the Finance MinisterNirmala Sitharaman summoned Infosys CEO Salil Parekh and gave the company time,until September 15, to fix these glitches.
The article, citing problems is a website for GST andMinistry of Cooperate Affairs, read, “When these things happen repeatedly, itis bound to raise suspicion. There are accusations that the Infosys managementis deliberately trying to destabilize India’s economy… Could it be that someanti-national power is trying to harm India’s economic interests throughInfosys?”
The article has further asked the software company, “WillInfosys provide this same kind of shoddy service to foreign clients.”
When Panchajanya editor Hitesh Shankar was asked aboutthe allegation by media daily, Indian Express, he said, “The cover story isabout a big corporate (Infosys) whose work’s quality is not up to itsreputation. This not only hampers the company’s reputation but also causesinconvenience to a crore of people… This kind of role and deliveries createdissatisfaction in society.”
He added, “If Infosys is not involved in sociallyquestionable/propaganda funding, it must come out and state the facts… we arewriting about the dissatisfaction that has arisen in the society. The companymust clarify whether it is a software company or an instrument to engineersocial anger.”
The magazine said that it did not have any evidence toprove its claim but the company’s “history and circumstances” is enough toprove the charges.
It said, “Infosys is accused of assisting Naxals,Leftists and Tukde Tukde Gang. The issue of Infosys directly or indirectlysupporting divisive forces in the country has already come out in the open. Itis believed (that) misinformation websites… is funded by Infosys. Someorganizations that spread caste hatred are also beneficiaries of Infosys’scharity.”
“Shouldn’t Infosys promoters be asked what is the reasonfor the company’s funding of anti-national and anarchist organizations? Shouldcompanies of such suspect character be allowed to participate in thegovernment-tendering process?,” it further said while adding, “One of thepromoters of Infosys is Nandan Nilekani who has contested Lok Sabha polls on aCongress ticket. The company’s founder NR Narayana Murthy’s opposition to theincumbent government’s ideology is not hidden from anyone. Infosys appointspeople subscribing to a certain ideology on important posts… If such a companygets important government tenders, wouldn’t there be a threat of influence fromChina and the ISI?”
It further said that the policies of the company wouldhurt the idea of Atmanirbhar India.