BANGALORE,Jan30,2012: Former Isro chairman Madhavan Nair late on Sunday said he has forwarded a representation to the
PMO seeking revocation of the order banning four scientists from working for the Union government. The representation follows government's suggestion for the same as an attempt to soothe frayed nerves after it had penalized four Isro scientists for the Antrix-Devas contract.Madhavan Nair told TOI, "I've made a representation. I have stated in the representation the procedure of issuing such an order is not according to the procedures and norms of the government and hence it may be revoked." Earlier, the minister of state in the PMO, V Narayanswamy, who has come in for criticizm for his statement that the action against Isro scientists is a warning to the scientific community, struck a conciliatory note, "We are ready to consider representation from the scientists."Narayanswamy had said, "Mr Nair and other scientists have helped develop the country. They have been instrumental in not only launching satellites, but taking us to the moon through Chandrayaan-1. It's because of them that we reached the sixth place in space in the world. We do not want to create a situation where scientists are demoralized." Nair, responding to Narayanswamy's remarks, said, "If what the minister has said about us is true, that we are highly reputed scientists and that we have contributed to the nation's space development and taken India to the moon, then I welcome it and appreciate the same."I urge that the PMO immediately call for the corresponding file and issue a directive revoking the ban order. Just as the government had stated in its order that it has asked a competent authority to issue orders to ban us from government work, I and my scientist colleagues urge the same government issue another directive asking the authority to withdraw the ban order immediately," he said.
