Demanding an apology from those responsible for taking punitive action against him and three fellow space scientists, Former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for revoking the official order barring them from holding government posts.
Nair in the letter to the Prime Minister also wanted a probe into the entire matter that led to the action which has outraged the scientific community.
"I have represented to the Prime Minister and asked him to quash the order as well as conduct an inquiry into the matter," Nair said today, adding the Government should restore his honour.
"I am not interested in any government favours. What I am interested is restoring the honour of myself and my colleagues," said the ex-Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO).
Nair when asked by newsmen if those who issued the order should tender an apology said, "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".
Leading molecular biologist Pushpa M Bhargava also shared the sentiments expressed by the architect of the maiden unmanned Moon mission Chandrayan-I.
"The order must be revoked...there should be an apology from the government," Bhargava said.
In the letter to Singh, Nair wanted an inquiry into government action blacklisting the four scientists in connection with the Antrix-Devas deal in which the private firm was allotted scarce S band spectrum by ISRO allegedly violating rules when he was the space agency's chairman.
Nair told reporters there should be a "proper procedure" in proceeding with all these matters before an official order is issued.
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 said, "if it is a real move from government side it is good.
He also said 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.
