RSS praises Infosys after magazine’s ‘anti-national’ jibe at IT firm

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has distanced itself from an article that suggested “anti-national” forces could be using IT giant Infosys to hurt India’s economic interests. Raising questions over the glitches in the GST and Income Tax portals developed by Infosys, the four-page cover story of the RSS-associated weekly Panchjanya also referred to past accusations against the Bengaluru-based firm of helping “Naxalites, leftists and tukde-tukde gangs,” while clarifying the magazine did not have any solid evidence to back the claims. The article Infosys ‘Saakh Aur Aghaat’ (Reputation and Damage) claimed that tax payers’ trust in the country’s economy had taken a hit due to the glitches that were occuring despite government organisations and agencies never hesitating in awarding contracts for crucial websites and portals to Infosys.

“Is it that any anti-national force via Infosys is trying to hurt India’s economic interests?” the article asked.

Following condemnation from social media users and opposition parties like the Congress, RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar tweeted that the views expressed were that of the author.

“As an Indian company, Infosys has made seminal contribution in progress of the country. There might be certain issues with a portal run by Infosys, but the article published by Panchjanya in this context only reflects individual opinion of the author,” Ambekar said.

 PF rule change: How to file your EPF, EPS nomination digitally

He also claimed that “Panchjanya is not mouthpiece of the RSS and the said article or opinions expressed in it should not be linked with the RSS.”

Panchjanya editor Hitesh Shankar told Press Trust of India the glitches in “these tax portals are of national concern and those who are responsible for them should be held accountable.”

Last month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also expressed “deep disappointment” after summoning Infosys CEO Salil Parekh as the new income tax portal was shut for two days. Parekh was given till September 15 to resolve the glitches.

Sitharaman also sought an explanation from Infosys for the “repeated issues” faced by taxpayers.