Rajan did 'extraordinary job' as RBI chief: Infosys' Sikka

We require a very pivotal kind of leadership now from the central bank in order to work with the government

Infosys' Indian-origin chief executive officer Vishal Sikka on Saturday said Raghuram Rajan has been "outstanding" as Reserve Bank of India governor and he being a green-card holder should not be an issue.

"I am here (as Infosys CEO). I am a US citizen. I don't think he (Rajan) was a US citizen but I am a US citizen. Be that as it is phir bhi dil hai Hindustani (I am an Indian at heart). That is what should count," Infosys CEO and managing director Vishal Sikka said.

"He has been an extraordinary governor and we wish him all the best in his life and academia. I would love to see if there is some way to work together but he has done an extraordinary job and we wish him all the best," he added.

Asked if Rajan being a green-card holder should be an issue, Sikka said he did not think so.

When asked if Rajan should have been treated in a more dignified manner by the government, he said, "I do not know enough to comment on that but all I can say is that he has done a great job and we wish him the very best."

Describing Rajan as "one of the visionaries", Sikka (left) said he saw the crisis in 2008 happen long before other people did and had a deep insight into how the economy worked.

"I am particularly excited to see what he will do next," he added.

On the impact of Rajan not going for the second term on the economy, Sikka said, "The economy is very strong. India is stronger. Things will go on. But he has for sure done a very remarkable job."

On Rajan's successor, Sikka said, "I have no idea. There are many economists. But this is ultimately the government's decision. We will be fully supportive of whatever the decision is."

NRI economist Lord Meghnad Desai said Rajan being a green-card holder doesn't mean that he is not an Indian enough.

Infosys chairman R Seshasayee said the resignation was "clearly Raghuram's choice".

“He has always been keen on academia. But having said that I do hope that we will have a leadership in RBI soon which would do the very very outstanding work that Rajan had started," Seshasayee added.

"We require a very pivotal kind of leadership now from the central bank in order to work with the government to keep our aspirations. I do believe that he is such an outstanding person," he said.

“If he would have continued, it would have been a great deal of comfort not only to India but outside the world as well. But I am sure that the government will have someone stepping in his place. Therefore, we are looking forward to that," he said.