Narayana Murthy lauds Modi as the ‘finest administrator’

Showering praise on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for being "the finest administrator," Infosys chairman emeritus N R Narayana Murthy said Monday the state had done extremely well under his leadership as reflected by its growth indices, but added he did not have much idea on how the state was doing in terms of human development indices.

Speaking to the media during his visit to Vadodara to receive the first Sayaji Ratna Award of the Baroda Management Association, Murthy said quality of roads, power situation and other infrastructure in Gujarat were enough to establish its reputation as an effectively administered state. "Narendra Modi has been acknowledge as the finest administrator in the country, there is no doubt about it," he said.

"It is clear just from the data on the ground that this state has done extremely well. I do not know how it is in certain human development indices like nutrition, healthcare, etc. So I am not in a position to comment on that. But having looked at cities like Ahmedabad and Vadodara, I must say he (Modi) has done well," he said.

Expressing concern over India's current growth rate at 5%, Murthy said the rate was insufficient to create "inclusive prosperity." "Common sense tells that if we continue to grow at this rate, it won't be sufficient to bring about inclusive prosperity. For that, we will have to grow at 9-10% rate," he said.

Murthy said Mahatma Gandhi was his role model for the power of leadership he demonstrated. "Mahatma Gandhi, a Gujarati, has been my role model. He was somebody who demonstrated the power of leadership. He said you must be the change you want to see in others. Therefore Gandhi had been, is, and will be a role model for me."