Approach us directly: ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair to government

BANGALORE: Battling the action against him and three other top scientists in the controversial Antrix- Devas deal, former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair today demanded that the order barring them from government posts should not only be revoked but also an apology tendered by those responsible for it.

"Certainly. They owe an apology not to me but to the whole country. Somebody has taken law into their hands and they have to apologise before the country", said Nair when asked if those who issued the order should apologise.

Nair said the earlier order was issued as per the direction of the government and "competent authority has taken a decision."

"Now, if the government is serious about it, it has to direct the so-called competent authority to do the needful (revoke the order)", he said.

He also said that the government should approach him and the three scientists directly rather than seeking their views through media, asserting that truth has to be established as it's a question of their honour.

On the statement of Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy, that the government is ready to hear their views, Nair told PTI: "I don't know why he should make such statements."

"If any time they ask our views, we will give our views. And by this time, he would have known the views of all of us", Nair said.

The government action came in the wake of the Antrix-Devas deal in which the private firm was allotted scarce S band spectrum by ISRO allegedly violating rules, when Nair was the agency's chairman.

The decision has come in for flak from the scientific community including Prof C N R Rao, head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, who said, they had been "thrown out like garbage."