‘Not Linked With RSS’: Sangh Distances Itself From Panchjanya Article Calling Infosys ‘Anti-National’

Panchjanya, a weekly magazine with affiliation to RSS, carried a four-page cover story on Infosys, calling it an “anti-national power” that is “trying to hurt India's economic interests”.

Representative Photo

New Delhi: Sunil Ambekar, the joint head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) media and publicity department, has distanced the organisation from an article published by Panchjanya against Infosys.

Panchjanya, a weekly magazine affiliated with the RSS, has carried a four-page cover story on Infosys in its September issue, in which it called the Indian software company an “anti-national power” that is “trying to hurt India's economic interests”.

Sunil Ambekar took to Twitter to clarify Sangh’s stance over the matter and wrote: “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”.

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

Dubbing it as 'Unchi Dukan, Phika Pakwaan', the article attacked the Bengaluru-headquartered company over the issue of glitches encountered by users on the Income Tax portal, a matter that was also taken up by the Union finance ministry recently.

"Due to glitches in both GST and Income Tax return portals developed by Infosys, the taxpayers' trust in the country's economy has taken a hit. Is it that any anti-national force via Infosys is trying to hurt India's economic interests," the article read, as quoted by PTI.

While the article said the magazine does not have any solid evidence to corroborate the claims, it mentioned that Infosys has been accused of helping "Naxalites, leftists and tukde-tukde gangs" many times.

The clarification by Sunil Ambekar has come as the article increasingly garnered attention and the RSS was being questioned on whether it supports these allegations.

Meanwhile, Panchjanya editor Hitesh Shankar said the publication "stands firm with its report".

Taking to Twitter Sunday, he posted: "If Infosys has objections, it should present its side by urging for a more thorough investigation of these facts in the interest of the company."

In a related tweet in the same thread, however, Shankar, clarified that the report is "not related to the Sangh".

1) Panchjanya stands firm with its report.
2) If Infosys has objections, it should present its side by urging for a more thorough investigation of these facts in the interest of the company. @epanchjanya #Infosys pic.twitter.com/I0uMRQUHH1

— Hitesh Shankar (@hiteshshankar) September 5, 2021