Microsoft CEO ‘sad’ over CAA
Wants Bangladeshi immigrant to launch unicorn in India
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has expressed his disappointment with India’s new Citizenship Amendment Act and expressed his desire that Bangladeshi immigrants would help create the next unicorn in India or become the CEO of Infosys.
Nadella made the remarks while speaking to editors at a Microsoft event in Manhattan where he was asked about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which grants citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
“I think what is happening is sad ... It’s just bad ... I would love to see a Bangladeshi immigrant who comes to India and creates the next unicorn in India or becomes the next CEO of Infosys [top IT company of India],” Nadella was quoted as saying by Ben Smith, the Editor-in-Chief of New York-based BuzzFeed News, on Monday.
“I’m shaped by my Indian heritage, growing up in a multicultural India and my immigrant experience in the United States. My hope is for an India where an immigrant can aspire to found a prosperous start-up or lead a multinational corporation benefitting Indian society and the economy at large”.
Nadella grew up in Hyderabad - India’s technology hub - but is now an American citizen.
Historian Ramchandra Guha, who has opposed the Indian government’s move saying that it was against the country’s constitution, welcomed Nadella’s statement and asked Indian IT leaders to have similar courage, reports Economic Times.
“I am glad Satya Nadella has said what he has. I wish that one of our own IT czars had the courage and wisdom to say this first. Or to say it even now,” wrote Guha on the microblogging platform Twitter.
People across India have protested this move saying that the CAA discriminates Muslims and violates the Indian constitution.
Former Infosys board member T V Mohandas Pai, who supports the government, said that Nadella was confused and has been misled by Indian leftist academics in the US.
“Yes, he is very confused in his statement. Must be the Indian leftist academics in the US who have confused him by misinformation., @satyanadella Pl study the CAA before you comment! We respect you as @Microsoft CEO and you must not make comments to malign India!,” Pai wrote on Twitter.
The CAA passed by Indian parliament on December 11 went into force on January 10.