Wednesday, January 18 2006 15:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Chairman of Wipro Limited Azim Premji today (Jan 18, 2006) made a veiled criticism of the State Government for not doing enough on the infrastructure front here but sought to steer clear of making any controversial statement.

Premji said many large cities like Hyderabad and Chennai are investing a lot in infrastructure.

Asked by reporters then if that meant the Karnataka Government is not doing that in Bangalore, he said, "I am not saying that. I am not going to make any controversial statement. You have to make your own judgement."

Initially, Premji did not want to comment on the condition of city roads, which had come under criticism from the industry, particularly the information technology sector.

"We don't want to get involved in the controversy. We want to keep out of it," he said.

Premji sought to put the ball in the court of the media on the issue of infrastructure in Bangalore, saying, "You are powerful. We will never have it (that power)."

The New York Stock Exchange-listed company's Chief Financial Officer Suresh Senapaty said Wipro has applied to the Government seeking land for expanding its operations here and is awaiting a response.

Wipro's city-rival Infosys Technologies Ltd last week said the Government not making available land for it is constraining its growth plans for the city.